Bursaspor won 4-2 at Aktepe despite Lincoln's late red card

Lincoln Henrique Oliveira dos Santos played a part in three of Bursaspor's four goals, then was sent off with five minutes left as they held on at Keçiörengücü.

Lincoln Henrique Oliveira dos Santos was involved in nearly everything Bursaspor did at Aktepe, and his last act was the one that will be remembered. He was booked at 84 minutes and sent off a minute later, so the final five minutes of a 4-2 away win were played with ten men. He had already scored once and set up three goals, which is why his exit changed the end of the match more than anything else in it.

Bursaspor had less of the ball than they usually do away from home. They had 57% possession, against an average of 60.7% in their away matches this season, which is a clear dip for a side that normally controls the ball on the road. Keçiörengücü had 43%, close to their usual 44.2% at home, so their share of possession was ordinary by their own standards.

The chances tell a different story. Bursaspor took 18 shots and put 11 of them on target, and their expected goals figure, a measure of the quality of chances based on where they were taken from, was 1.63. That is above the 1.45 they average in away matches. Keçiörengücü created less than usual, with an expected goals figure of 0.79 against a home average of 1.29.

The scoring was above normal for both sides in different ways. Bursaspor's four goals is well above the 2.2 they average away, while Keçiörengücü's two were exactly what they usually score at home. The match produced six goals in all, and the league as a whole averages 2.8 per game, so this was a busy afternoon even before the red card. Keçiörengücü conceded four, far more than the 1.1 they usually concede at home.

Amine Boutrah, Lewis Baker and Kelechi Iheanacho were the forwards and midfielders who turned Bursaspor's chances into goals, with Lincoln adding the fourth. Boutrah's opener was confirmed by VAR, the video review that checks goals, a minute after it had been given. Bursaspor's own goalkeeper had only one save to make, which shows how little of the match was spent defending their goal. Oğuzcan Çalışkan pulled one back for Keçiörengücü just before half-time, and that was the last time the home side found the net.

Keçiörengücü made four changes in one go at 61 minutes, with the match still in the balance, and they pushed to get back into it. Bursaspor's lead held, and the late sending off did not change the result. For Bursaspor, the win stays a sign of how well their away form has held up, since they are now third in the table with eight wins from 11 matches on the road.

Keçiörengücü sit fourth in the table, and their home record now reads five wins, five draws and one defeat from 11 matches. Their goals conceded at home this season have been modest, which makes four at Aktepe a sharp reminder of how quickly a lead can slip away when chances go the other way.

Player of the matchLincoln1 goal · 3 assists8.5

L. Baker1 goal8.2

K. Ịheanachọ1 goal8.1

A. Boutrah1 goal7.8