Team of the Week 23: Sneijder Strikes
2013-02-26 15:44:10
Allan McGregor - Beşiktaş: McGregor made a few vital stops for Beşiktaş preventing his side from blowing their single goal lead. The Scottish international keeper kept a clean sheet - his fourth of the campaign.
Ersan Gülüm - Beşiktaş: Ersan had a solid game and helped the Black Eagles keep a clean sheet for the first time since any of us can remember.
Marko Simic - Kayserispor: Simic was thorn in Gençlerbirliği's back side, making key interceptions, tackles and aerial clearances.
Mustafa Yumlu - Trabzonspor: Yumlu kept Mersin at bay throughout the game, another impressive performance by the 25-year-old defender.
Roberto Hilbert - Beşiktaş: Hilbert scored the games only goal and what a goal it was, the German right-back broke from the half-way line past two opposition players and played in a lovely one-two before finishing in style.
Raul Meireles - Fenerbahçe: Great performance from Raul, the Portuguese international dropped deep playing just infront of the defensive line and orchestrated attack after attack. Raul was the mastermind behind many of the Yellow Canaries attacking moves in the second half.
Emre Belözoğlu - Fenerbahçe: Emre gave another midfield masterclass - this time against Kasımpaşa. The Turkish international midfielder has been in splendid form since returning from Atletico Madrid during the winter transfer window.
Samuel Holmen - IBB: Holmen opened the scoring against Eskişehirspor however, his side managed to squander the lead he provided and were trailing 2-1 until the third minute of additional time. Holmen once again rose to the rescue and scored the equaliser from the penalty spot.
Selçuk İnan - Galatasaray: Selçuk couldn't have got off to a worse start, Fernando Muslera's clearance rebounded off him into his own goal resulting in one of the most surreal, freak own goals your ever likely to see. However, for the remainder of the game he gave a performance reminiscent of his form last season. The Turkish international midfielder pulled the strings in midfield but also got stuck in defensively making important interceptions and kept position well. Oh and of course there was his goal - what a tremendous strike!
Wesley Sneijder - Galatasaray: Fatih Terim has been pulling his hair out trying to find a position best suited to Sneijder in the team. The Dutch international was given a central, attacking midfield role and looked a lot better. Sneijder was having a field day picking out pin point passes to Didier Drogba as well as Burak Yilmaz however, his finest moment was yet to come. Galatasaray were behind by two goals, looked a little shell shocked and needed some inspiration. Sneijder stepped up to the task and provided a moment of magic which Galatasaray fans won't be forgetting in a hurry. The former Inter star took the ball past his marker before curling the ball into the top corner from outside the penalty area. The goal celebration, his work rate and the passion he showed will be music to the Lions ears.
Burak Yilmaz - Galatasaray: The statistics speak for themselves - 62 goals in his last 71 league games, 7 Champions League goal in 7 starts making him the leading scorer in the competition along with Cristiano Ronaldo. The leading scorer in the domestic league with 14 goals, Burak even has the highest number of assists for Galatasaray. However, you look at it the figures are staggering and he's still improving. Burak has improved his aerial ability beyond recognition and once again scored a header in the Lions previous game. The reigning Turkish Super League goal king was on a mission to make sure Galatasaray did not lost against Orduspor. Burak scored the equaliser, then put Galatasaray ahead and even found enough time to setup Selçuk with the winner. His goal celebration was like Marco Tardelli celebration in the 1982 World Cup final on speed. Burak ran the breadth of the field, waving his finger like a mad man jumped into the stands to grab the hand of manager Fatih Terim who had been sent off - absolutely mental.
