Chaos in İzmir: Göztepe and Kasımpaşa Battle to a Six-Goal Stalemate

A high-scoring thriller at the İzmir Gürsel Aksel Stadium ended in a 3-3 draw between Göztepe and Kasımpaşa on Sunday, April 12, 2026. Even as the six-goal spectacle provided entertainment for the fans, the aftermath was defined by fury, with Kasımpaşa manager Emre Belözoğlu launching a scathing attack on the officiating following a series of late-game twists.

The Trendyol Süper Lig Matchday 29 encounter served as a microcosm of the league’s volatility. Göztepe, fighting to maintain their grip on the upper echelon of the table, faced a Kasımpaşa side desperate for points to distance themselves from the relegation zone. By the final whistle, the points were shared, but the tension remained high.

Match Timeline: A Seesaw Battle

Göztepe drew first blood in the 24th minute through Juan Santos, giving the home side an early advantage. Kasımpaşa, still, refused to fold, finding an equalizer just before the break when Mortadha Ben Ouanes scored in the 45+1 minute.

The momentum shifted decisively toward the visitors in the second half. Benedyczak pushed Kasımpaşa ahead in the 52nd minute, and the team appeared to be cruising toward a victory. The drama intensified in the 69th minute when Kasımpaşa believed they had secured a 3-1 lead; however, after a VAR review, the goal was overturned for offside, providing a lifeline to the hosts.

The match took another strange turn in the 76th minute when Filip Krastev inadvertently scored an own goal, bringing the score to 2-2. Göztepe capitalized on the chaos, with Jeferson converting a penalty in the 82nd minute to reclaim the lead. Just as Kasımpaşa looked to salvage a point, Bokele scored in the 89th minute to craft it 3-2, but the final score eventually settled at 3-3 after a frantic closing sequence.

The madness concluded in stoppage time when Kasımpaşa’s Kerem Demirbay was sent off in the 90+4 minute after receiving a second yellow card.

Belözoğlu Erupts: “The Referee Butchered Us”

If the match was chaotic on the pitch, the post-match press conference was explosive. Emre Belözoğlu did not hold back in his criticism of referee Çağdaş Altay, claiming that the official’s decisions directly influenced the result.

“Today, I believe the only right outcome was for us to win,” Belözoğlu stated. “Both teams’ players put in the struggle they were capable of. Unfortunately, we were faced with a referee who pruned and butchered Kasımpaşa.”

Belözoğlu emphasized that his side had multiple opportunities to put the game out of reach, suggesting they could have easily won 4-1 or 5-1 if not for the officiating. He expressed particular frustration over the timing of the penalty and the VAR decision, noting that his team was already struggling with a depleted squad.

The manager highlighted the precarious state of his roster, mentioning that his starting left back has been sidelined by injury for six weeks. Belözoğlu noted that he was forced to remove a player due to cramps and was considering a tactical shift to a five-man defense when the penalty incident occurred.

The Standings: Relegation Pressure Mounts

For Göztepe, the draw represents another missed opportunity. After two consecutive games without a win, they remain in 6th place with 47 points. While they are safely away from the bottom, the lack of momentum could be costly as the season enters its final stretch.

For Kasımpaşa, the result is more critical. Currently sitting in 13th place with 28 points, they are locked in a tight battle to avoid the drop. The relegation scrap has become a crowded affair, with only a few points separating the middle of the pack from the bottom three.

Tactical Takeaways

The match highlighted Göztepe’s resilience and their ability to leverage a dynamic squad, a trait Belözoğlu acknowledged even amidst his anger. However, Kasımpaşa’s inability to close out a lead—compounded by the VAR reversal—suggests a vulnerability in their defensive transition during high-pressure moments.

The loss of Kerem Demirbay for the next match due to his red card will be a significant blow for Belözoğlu, who is already managing a “narrow squad.” Replacing Demirbay’s influence in the midfield will be a primary concern as Kasımpaşa prepares for their next fixture.

What’s Next

Both teams now look to bounce back from this stalemate. Kasımpaşa will return home to host Alanyaspor in a match that could prove pivotal for their survival hopes. Meanwhile, Göztepe will travel to face Kocaelispor, seeking to snap their winless streak and climb back toward the top five.

Do you feel the referee’s decisions cost Kasımpaşa the game, or was the draw a fair reflection of the match? Let us know in the comments below.