Former Leyton Orient star Dan Agyei enjoyed a true Turkish delight last weekend as he ended Galatasaray’s 19-game unbeaten league run.
The 28-year-old scored his first goal in the Super Lig to seal the promoted team’s 1-0 win over the reigning division champions.
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Galatasaray, who lost just one of 36 games on their way to the title last season with 95 points, started this season in a similar way.
The giants from Istanbul are also going strong in the Champions League after beating English champions Liverpool 1-0 in September.
Ironically, however, it was a goal from an Englishman that made the difference as Kocaelispor stunned Galatasaray on Sunday.
Just 168 days after appearing at Wembley for the League One play-off final, Agyei scored arguably the greatest goal of his career.
After Serdar Dursun saved a header from a goal kick, the winger cut in Abdülkerim Bardakci just before half-time.
The London-born star then conveniently shuffled between the Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur expats as a sharp first left Lucas Torreira on the deck.
A second later, Davidson Sanchez was powerless to stop Agyei’s wicked low shot, which found Ugurcan Cakır at the near post.
Liverpool winner Victor Osimhen thought he had equalized for Galatasaray after the break, but it was ruled offside and Kocaelispor secured a priceless three points.
It ensured Agyei scored a game-winning goal against Turkey’s top side in just his fourth start since signing a two-year deal away from last season’s TFF First League champions.
European football expert Andy Brassell told The Pitch Prospect.com that the sky is the limit if he continues his winning streak.
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Galatasaray’s unbeaten streak ended
“It’s an amazing story,” Brassell said. “Considering that it is for Kocaelispor, a team that won the Turkish second division last season, was promoted and was the first team to beat Galatasaray this season, it is an amazing achievement.”
“Absolutely amazing performance. Brilliant solo goal from him to win the game too.”
“Well of course, considering he went through the AFC Wimbledon academy, which was very highly rated, was bought by Burnley when they were in the Premier League, went on a few loan spells and it didn’t quite stick anywhere for him.”
“He had moments where he scored goals at Leyton Orient, Crewe… But now to play in the Turkish top flight and score against one of the better teams in Europe to beat them is really an incredible story.”
“So there was a bit of controversy about Osmihen’s possible equalizer being ruled out late in the matter, but I think given the power of the narrative we probably have to say it’s not such a bad thing.”
“It’s great for him. We’ve seen a number of English players move to Turkish football in recent years.”
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“Absolutely amazing performance”
“And if he does well at Kocaelispor it will be a really great thing because as I said, they are back in the top flight but it is a club with potential.”
“They have a big old stadium. It holds about 34,000, 35,000 people.”
“Obviously it was packed in that game against Galatasaray.
“If he can build on that, it’s a really great story and maybe you can move to an even bigger Turkish club that way.”