Yuksel’s 90th-Minute Stunner Seals 3-3 Samsunspor-Göztepe Thriller

Samsunspor and Göztepe Share the Spoils in Six-Goal Süper Lig Opener

The 2026/27 Süper Lig season exploded into life as Samsunspor and Göztepe played out a breathless 3-3 draw in their opening fixture, with Celil Yuksel’s 90th-minute equaliser capping a match that swung violently between ecstasy and despair.

Göztepe’s Lightning Start Through Matos

Just 180 seconds into the new campaign, Göztepe striker Alex Matos sent the travelling fans into raptures, latching onto a loose ball to fire past Okan Kocuk. The early blow left Thorsten Fink’s Samsunspor reeling, with the home boss himself booked for dissent moments later as frustration boiled over.

The visitors’ joy turned to anxiety when goalscorer Matos saw yellow for a reckless challenge in the 17th minute – the first of four Göztepe bookings in a frantic first half that saw them pinned back by Samsunspor’s 69% possession.

Samsunspor’s Fightback Through Marius and Kilinc

The tide turned when Marius coolly converted a 30th-minute penalty after a handball decision, before Emre Kilinc sent the 19 Mayis Stadium into bedlam with a clinical finish from Josafat Mendes’ cutback just before half-time.

But Göztepe, defying their 31% possession, struck back immediately after the restart. Sinclair Armstrong – who would later be substituted after picking up a yellow card – showed remarkable composure to slot home through a crowd of defenders.

Chaos Reigns as Penalty Miss Precedes Late Drama

The game’s pivotal moment came in the 58th minute when Marius stepped up for a second penalty, only to blaze over the bar. Göztepe appeared to have stolen it when substitute Eren Bekiroglu finished smartly from Janderson’s pass on 65 minutes.

But just as the clock ticked into added time, Celil Yuksel – whose 21 shots had yielded nothing until that point – connected perfectly with Fatih Kaya’s cross to rifle home a deserved equaliser, preserving Samsunspor’s unbeaten home record in the most dramatic fashion.

What This Means For Both Sides

For Samsunspor, the late salvation papers over concerns about their profligacy – their 21 shots yielding just three goals despite an xG of 2.74. Göztepe will rue conceding late but take heart from clinical finishing that saw them score three from just seven shots on target.

Both sides showed the attacking intent that could make them dark horses this season, though defensive vulnerabilities were laid bare in this six-goal spectacle that sets the tone for an unpredictable Süper Lig campaign.

Key Moments

3′ ⚽ Göztepe — A. Matos

30′ ⚽ Samsunspor — Marius

43′ ⚽ Samsunspor — E. Kilinc (assist: J. Mendes)

46′ ⚽ Göztepe — S. Armstrong

65′ ⚽ Göztepe — E. Bekiroglu (assist: Janderson)

90′ ⚽ Samsunspor — C. Yuksel (assist: F. Kaya)