Çaykur Rizespor Dominates Karadeniz Derby with 4-1 Rout of Samsunspor

In a high-stakes clash of regional rivals, Çaykur Rizespor delivered a commanding performance to secure a 4-1 victory over Samsunspor on Thursday, April 9, 2026. The match, a postponed fixture from the 27th week of the Trendyol Süper Lig, saw the home side dismantle their opponents in a flurry of goals that left the visitors reeling at the Çaykur Didi Stadyumu in Rize, Türkiye.

The result marks a significant turnaround for Çaykur Rizespor, who had gone two matches without a win before this encounter. With the three points, Rizespor has climbed to 33 points in the league standings, while Samsunspor remains stalled at 35 points.

A First-Half Blitz and Coaching Chaos

The match shifted decisively in the 39th minute. Antonio Augusto opened the scoring after a sharp one-two combination with Sowe, driving into the penalty area from the right diagonal and finishing clinically against the goalkeeper to make it 1-0. This goal triggered a sequence of events that would define the trajectory of the game.

The celebration was quickly overshadowed by drama on the touchline. In the 40th minute, Samsunspor head coach Thorsten Fink was shown a direct red card. The dismissal came after Fink protested Augusto’s opening goal and made physical contact with the referee’s arm, leaving his team to navigate the remainder of the derby without their leader.

Rizespor wasted no time capitalizing on the psychological blow to the visitors. In the 43rd minute, a corner delivered by Hojer from the right found Qazım Laçi on the left side of the box. Laçi’s strike moved toward the goal area, where Attila Mocsi was positioned to slide the ball into the net from close range, doubling the lead to 2-0.

The first-half onslaught culminated in the 45+1 minute, when Qazım Laçi converted a goal of his own, sending the home crowd into a frenzy and ensuring Rizespor entered the break with a commanding 3-0 advantage.

Augusto’s Brace and a Late Consolation

The second half followed a similar pattern of dominance for the home side. Antonio Augusto cemented his role as the man of the match in the 50th minute, netting his second goal of the evening to stretch the lead to 4-0. For the majority of the half, Samsunspor struggled to find a cohesive response to the Rizespor press.

The visitors managed a solitary consolation goal deep in stoppage time. In the 90+3 minute, Ndiaye found the back of the net, providing a small measure of pride for the visiting side, but the result had long been decided.

Match Summary: Key Statistics

The disparity in the performance was reflected in the final scoreline and the critical moments of the match. Below is a breakdown of the key events from the beIN SPORTS report.

Analysis: The Turning Point

While the goals told the story, the red card issued to Thorsten Fink was the definitive turning point. In a derby atmosphere, the loss of a head coach due to an emotional reaction often creates a vacuum of leadership on the pitch. Rizespor sensed this instability immediately, scoring two more goals within the final minutes of the first half.

For Rizespor, the synergy between Sowe and Augusto proved lethal, showcasing a level of attacking fluidity that had been missing in their previous two outings. The tactical decision to utilize Hojer’s delivery from set pieces as well paid dividends, as evidenced by the build-up to Mocsi’s goal.

For the global reader, the “Karadeniz derby” refers to the intense rivalry between clubs from the Black Sea region of Turkey. These matches are often characterized by high passion and volatility, elements that were on full display during the clash at the Çaykur Didi Stadyumu.

Standings Implications

This victory provides a vital boost to Çaykur Rizespor’s campaign. Moving to 33 points, they tighten the gap in the mid-table scramble of the Trendyol Süper Lig. For Samsunspor, the loss is a setback that leaves them at 35 points, having failed to secure any one of the available points in a match where they were outclassed in almost every department.

The fallout from Thorsten Fink’s dismissal will likely be a primary talking point for the Samsunspor board as they evaluate the team’s discipline and emotional control in high-pressure environments.

With the 27th-week backlog now cleared for these two sides, the focus shifts to the next round of fixtures as both teams seem to stabilize their form in the latter stages of the season.

Next Checkpoint: Both clubs will return to league action in the upcoming Trendyol Süper Lig matchday. Official schedules and lineup updates will be released via the league’s primary communication channels.

Do you think the red card for Thorsten Fink was the primary reason for Samsunspor’s collapse, or was Rizespor simply too strong on the day? Let us know in the comments below.