Turkish Champions Galatasaray edged Kocaelispor 1-0 Sunday to maintain a slim lead in the Süper Lig after five matches.
Captain Abdülkerim Bardakcı scored the only goal of the match in the 71st minute after the hosts had twice hit the woodwork and seen an early goal ruled out following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review.
The Istanbul giants thought they had taken the lead in the 12th minute after Lucas Torreira's long-range effort was parried by Kocaelispor goalkeeper Serhat Öztaşdelen.
Rafael Leao collected the rebound and sent a looping effort against the crossbar before Deniz Gül headed the loose ball into the net.
However, the goal was disallowed following a VAR review for a foul by Deniz against Öztaşdelen.
Deniz went close again in the 31st minute when his left-footed effort from a difficult angle struck the right post.
Kocaelispor responded seven minutes later on a fast break, with Dan Agyei hitting the left post from the left side of the penalty area.
Galatasaray piled on the pressure toward the end of the first half, but Öztaşdelen denied Leao and then produced another save to keep out Bardakcı's close-range header as the teams went into half time goalless.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 71st minute when Bardakcı scored with a powerful low left-footed strike from long range.
The Lions nearly doubled their advantage seven minutes later when Roland Sallai's direct free kick was tipped onto the crossbar by Öztaşdelen, who then helped clear the danger.
Kocaelispor could not find an equalizer in the closing stages as Galatasaray held on for their fourth victory in five league matches.
The result moved Galatasaray to 13 points and kept them top of the Süper Lig standings, while Kocaelispor remain on nine points.
In Sunday's other matches a traveling Kasımpaşa beat Gençlerbirliği 2-1, while newcomers Amed Sportif handed Başakşehir a 5-0 drubbing.
