Galatasaray completes the season with a double
Galatasaray ended the 2014-15 season with maximum success in local competitions after they won the double thanks to a 3-2 victory over Bursaspor in the Ziraat Cup final. The victory comes just days after being crowned Spor Toto Super League champions for the 20th time, earning a fourth star on their jersey. On Wednesday night, Galatasaray shook off any signs of overcelebration following their league win to beat Bursaspor 3-2 to win the 2014-15 Ziraat Cup at the Atatürk Stadium in Bursa. In the 25th minute, Bursaspor were awarded a penalty after Galatasaray's left-back Alex Telles committed a foul in the area. This allowed Bursaspor's Fernandao to score from the spot to make it 1-0. In the 40th minute, Galatasaray equalized when their Turkish international striker Burak Yılmaz finished at the far post. In the 48th minute of the second half, Galatasaray came back when Yılmaz again finished a one-on-one. Selçuk İnan made a deadly through ball to his teammate before the striker grabbed his second goal. Bursaspor scored an equalizer in the 58th minute when Volkan Şen put the ball in the net. Fernando Belluschi set up the goal with a classy back-heel pass. Galatasaray striker Yılmaz hit the target just a minute later to give Galatasaray the lead once again, securing his hat-trick. Galatasaray captain İnan lifted the trophy at the ceremony after the game, completing Galatasaray's first double since the 1999-2000 season. The Lions are the most successful team in Ziraat Cup history, winning a record 16 titles. Moreover, in winning the cup, Galatasaray retained the trophy they won last year.
Galatasaray coach Hamza Hamzoğlu said, "My players adapted to the game in the shortest possible time. They played in a way that a champion team should, won the game and took the trophy. We were quite aware of that the match would be hard for us after the league title. Still, the tiredness from the whole season was on our players' shoulder. They had difficulty playing in the first place but they got themselves together. I congratulate them."
Galatasaray coach Hamza Hamzoğlu said, "My players adapted to the game in the shortest possible time. They played in a way that a champion team should, won the game and took the trophy. We were quite aware of that the match would be hard for us after the league title. Still, the tiredness from the whole season was on our players' shoulder. They had difficulty playing in the first place but they got themselves together. I congratulate them."