Besiktas earn away win to hammer at tight title race

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - Besiktas beat Genclerbirligi 3-0 in a snow-struck Monday Super Lig match to stay in the Turkish top-tier football division's nail-biting title race.

Visitors Besiktas took an early lead in the capital Ankara as Algerian winger Rachid Ghezzal fired with his left foot outside the area to beat Genclerbirligi goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt.

Besiktas doubled the gap in the 89th minute as Turkish striker Cenk Tosun, who had a through ball, finished in the area.

Loaned from England's Everton in the winter transfer window, Tosun scored once again in the injury time as Besiktas took advantage of the loss of concentration in Genclerbirligi defense's before the third goal.

With Tosun's major contribution near the end of the match, Besiktas secured the 3-0 victory.

Both team’s players had to struggle with snowfall during the match’s second half at Eryaman Stadium.

Leaders Galatasaray, second-place Besiktas, and third-place Fenerbahce have 51 points each in the Super Lig standings.

With 45 points, Black Sea club Trabzonspor are now in the number four spot to pursue "the Big Three" teams from Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city.

Genclerbirligi from Ankara are sitting at number 19 in the league with 20 points.