Gebze saw off Sungurlu 3-0 in the Turkish Cup on Friday. The hosts moved to the top of the table after a single match, while their opponents sat third without having played a game yet. It was a straightforward afternoon for the home side, who closed the game out after an early start.
The result puts Gebze three points clear at the summit, though with only one fixture completed the standings mean little at this stage. Sungurlu remain on zero points after zero games — the table says nothing about them until they take the field. That is the nature of cup competitions, where one match can shift positions overnight.
Gebze arrived with momentum, having won their previous outing 3-0 against Sultanbeyli on Wednesday. Before that they had lost twice in quick succession, but they had bounced back with a 3-1 victory over Altkeima on Monday. To be fair, the form was patchy before this cup run, but they kept their heads now.
We had called for a home win at 71 per cent and that is how it played out. Not a surprise, perhaps, but the confidence was there. Gebze did not need to roll the dice — they simply took what came their way and did not look back.
Sungurlu's recent record includes three matches in October and April, with wins against Sultanbeyli, Kagitspor and Niksar among them. They had not played since October, which gives you an idea of the rhythm they were trying to find. The gap between their last game and this cup tie was significant.
One match down for Gebze, three points in the bag. The rest of the group will have to wait before they know where they stand. For now, the hosts lead the way.