Four matches took place in the Turkish Super Lig on Monday and the opening match of the day featured star performances from Gaziantep FK's West African contingent.
After a scoreless first half in their clash with Eyüpspor, recently acquired Ghanaian striker Emmanuel Boateng came on at halftime and made an instant impact. In the 52nd minute the former Levante forward drew a foul and then got on the end of a free kick service from Alexandru Maxim to head in his first goal for the club.
The 28-year-old former Charity Stars youth player was not done. After visitors Eyüpspor leveled the match, Boateng doubled his tally in the 78th minute by collecting a rebound and taking his time before calmly finishing.
After enduring average and underwhelming spells in Chinese football as well as at Portuguese club Rio Ave and most recently with Saudi Pro League side Al Orubah, Boateng's contribution is timely for midtable Gaziantep.
The hosts finished off their victory in stoppage time after an outstanding individual effort from Nigerian forward David Okereke, who won the ball in his own end before starting and finishing a swift counter attack. It was Okereke's 7th league goal of the season in a productive campaign since arriving on loan from Italian club Cremonese.
In a later clash between Göztepe and Samsunspor, Tanzania national team midfielder Novatus Miroshi continued his strong form for Göztepe since joining on a permanent basis from Belgian club Zulte Waregem. The Taifa Star found the net just before halftime for his fourth goal in seventeen league matches before Juan Santos doubled the hosts' lead early in the second half.
But another Ghanaian would provide a crucial spark to the cause of Samsunspor. Defender Kingsley Schindler came on as a substitute and got forward to pull a goal back with his first of the season and it was a moment that would be significant later on when Rick van Drongelen equalized for the visitors in stoppage time to save a point.
Samsunspor continue to surprise in third place this campaign with Schindler serving as a versatile option in the defense, one of the best in the league.
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