Süper Lig
Samsunspor beat Rizespor with second-half brace from Kaya
Samsunspor secured a 2-0 victory over Rizespor at the Çaykur Didi Stadyumu, with both goals coming after halftime.
Samsunspor picked up all three points in the opening match of the Süper Lig regular season, defeating host Rizespor 2-0 at the Çaykur Didi Stadyumu. The visitors were efficient in front of goal, converting both of their chances through João Mendes and Furkan Kaya, with assists from Said Jarju. The result leaves Rizespor sixth in the early table with three points from one game, while Samsunspor sit eighth with a point. A yellow card for L. Tomasson in the 27th minute offered a brief moment of tension for the visitors before they took the lead just before halftime. Rizespor pushed forward in search of an equaliser after the break but were caught on the counterattack when Kaya struck in the 63rd minute. M. Sagnan received a late yellow card as the home side grew frustrated, but Samsunspor held firm to preserve their clean sheet. Referee Omer Faruk Turtay brought the game to a close without further incident, confirming the final scoreline. Both managers will review the match footage as they prepare for upcoming fixtures. Rizespor’s 4-2-3-1 formation under Recep Ucar struggled to break down a compact Samsunspor side, while Thorsten Fink’s 4-3-3 setup proved more effective in transition. The atmosphere in Rize was subdued as the home crowd watched their side fail to find a response. Samsunspor’s disciplined performance and clinical finishing made the difference on the day.