Kocaelispor 1 - 0 FT Eyüpspor

VAR Decides: Kocaelispor Steals Three Points in Relegation Six-Pointer

Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 49/100. Two teams locked in the bottom three transformed a dead-even contest into a survival thriller when VAR became the ultimate arbiter of fate.

The Goal That Never Was

At 51 minutes, Eyüpspor thought they had broken through. Serdar Gürler's finish looked clinical—until VAR intervened. The goal was ruled out, and the intensity exploded. Kocaelispor rode the reprieve; Eyüpspor descended into frustration. One moment of technology reversed the entire balance of the match. The pitch became a tinderbox of emotion and recrimination.

Penalty Redemption in the 85th

The script flipped again at 83 minutes when VAR confirmed a penalty for Joseph Nonge. Two minutes later, B. Petkovic converted from 12 yards, and Kocaelispor's bench erupted. A winner from the spot in the 85th—this was the upset factor nobody saw coming. Eyüpspor had dominated possession (54%) and fired 13 shots, yet the xG of 0.58 told the real story: they created chances without conviction. Kocaelispor, by contrast, were clinical when it mattered.

Goalkeeping Heroics Define the Margins

Aleksandar Jovanović made six crucial saves to keep Kocaelispor's hopes alive, while Botond Balogh anchored a resolute defence. For Eyüpspor, Luccas Claro fought hard in a losing cause. The gulf in xG (1.21 vs 0.58) revealed the truth: Kocaelispor's efficiency trumped Eyüpspor's volume. In a relegation battle, that margin is the difference between hope and despair.

Can Kocaelispor finally make home count?

Skip It Futmetrix Score: 16/100. This is a low-glamour clash where Kocaelispor’s home issues and Eyüpspor’s goal crisis collide, with one moment of quality likely to tip the balance.

The Setup

On October 04, 2025 at the stadium, Kocaelispor host Eyüpspor in Süper Lig action, still searching for their first home league win of the season after three failed attempts. Despite that, they sit 8th with 18 points from 14 matches, a side that grinds out results but has not yet built true home Form.

Eyüpspor arrive in far rougher shape. Fifteen games, just 10 goals scored and 18 conceded, 13 points and 15th place tell the story of a team stuck near the wrong end of the table. Their attack misfires, their confidence wobbles, and every away trip feels heavy. Competitive Balance here points to a tight, low-tempo encounter where both sides are more afraid to lose than desperate to win.

Futmetrix models tag this as a low-Stakes bottom-half battle, but the individual Stars are good enough to flip a cagey game with a single action. For Kocaelispor, the main threat is clear; for Eyüpspor, their best player might be the one in gloves.

Key Battle

The decisive duel pits striker against goalkeeper: Bruno Petković versus Marcos Felipe. Petković has three goals in five matches and an average rating of 7.2, carrying Kocaelispor’s attacking burden with his penalty-box presence and ruthless finishing.

Facing him is Eyüpspor’s standout performer. Marcos Felipe has racked up 17 saves in five games, 3.4 per match, and kept two clean sheets. His reflexes on the line and command of the area are the main reasons Eyüpspor remain competitive despite their lack of goals. If Petković finds a yard in the box, Felipe must be perfect.

Our Prediction

Expect Kocaelispor to see more of the ball without committing too many men forward, wary of a sucker punch. Eyüpspor will sit compact, protect their box and hope transitions can steal something.

With both attacks blunt and both teams under the psychological weight of their league positions, the game should drift into a war of attrition: fouls, long balls, half-chances, and one or two real openings. Kocaelispor’s slightly stronger recent Form and Petković’s edge in the area tilt it their way.

Prediction: Kocaelispor 1-0 Eyüpspor. A grinding match, decided by a single Petković strike, with Marcos Felipe keeping the score respectable as Eyüpspor throw bodies forward late on.