Alhaft's late goal settles a match short on chances

Vanspor FK beat Sarıyer with the only goal of the game, though neither side created chances anywhere near its usual level.

Ilias Alhaft's goal in the 88th minute was the only one in Van, and it came in a game that had offered little for either side. Ozan Kokcu provided the pass that released him, and that single moment decided the result. Until then, the afternoon had been a long stretch of possession without much to show for it.

Expected goals is a way of valuing chances: each shot is scored according to how often shots of that kind go in, and the scores are added together. Vanspor's total was 0.65, well below their home average of 1.24. They still had four shots on target, three of which were saved by the Sarıyer keeper, and one of those four found the net.

Sarıyer had more of the ball, 57% against an away average of 52.7%, and it was the kind of possession that looks good on paper. It did not turn into chances. Their eight shots produced none on target, with two blocked and six sent wide or over, and their expected goals of 0.61 sat far beneath an away average of 1.65.

Vanspor conceded nothing, which is unusual for a side that normally lets in 1.6 goals in a home match. Sarıyer, who usually score in away games, went without a goal this time. Neither side lost a man to a red card. The only bookings came early, with Naby Youssouf Oulare booked for Vanspor in the third minute, and Tunahan Ergul for Sarıyer just after the hour.

Across the league, the average is 2.9 goals a match, and this one produced a single strike. Each side also fell short of the league average of 11.6 shots per team, with Vanspor taking seven and Sarıyer eight. Few chances were created, and the one that counted was enough to settle the game.

Vanspor's home record reads three wins, three draws and six defeats from twelve matches, with 22 goals conceded, and that leaves them 18th in the table. Sarıyer, who sit 11th, have won four of their twelve away games.

Player of the matchI. Alhaft1 goal7.7

C. Osmanpaşa6 duels won7.0

E. Korkmazoğlu2 chances created6.9

S. Osmanoğlu5 duels won6.9