Bulut's Late Hammer: Rizespor Breaks Deadlock in 90+7 Drama
Average Futmetrix Score: 43/100. A match defined by defensive resilience and attacking imprecision explodes in the final seconds when VAR's controversial penalty confirmation sets up Emrecan Bulut's match-winning strike—a lifeline for Rizespor, another hammer blow for Genclerbirligi's relegation nightmare.
Intensity: A Shootout That Yielded Nothing—Until It Did
Thirty combined shots. Nine on target. Eight saves. Eleven corners. For 90 minutes, intensity raged across Rize's pitch without resolution. Both sides carved out chances with the precision of sculptors, yet the goalkeepers stood firm—until the 90+7 minute when chaos broke loose. VAR's confirmation of a penalty in the 90th minute (awarded to Genclerbirligi but never converted) proved the turning point. Bulut, introduced from the bench, capitalized on Sowe's assist to deliver the decisive blow. His 7.9 rating masked the impact: a season-defining goal for Rizespor's survival hopes.
Balance Shattered: One Lead Change, One Destiny
The balance tilted decisively in the 90+7. Rizespor, despite 49% possession, dominated inside the box (13 shots inside, just 2 outside). Genclerbirligi controlled territory (51% possession) but fired 13 efforts from distance—a symptom of toothlessness in the final third. Husniddin Alikulov's 7.5-rated defensive masterclass and Mithat Pala's midfield orchestration (both 7.5) gave Rizespor the platform to strike late. One lead change defined the match: Rize's ascent, Genclerbirligi's descent.
Stakes: Survival Hangs in the Balance
Genclerbirligi face obliteration: five games, five defeats, zero points, -6 goal difference, 18th place. This loss compounds their mathematical crisis in the relegation struggle. Rizespor, conversely, claimed their first win of the season (5 points, 12th place) despite an expected goals map (1.17 xG) that suggested fortune played a hand. The xG paradox—Genclerbirligi's 1.26 xG yielded nothing—underscores their clinical collapse.
Key Questions
How dramatic was Bulut's 90+7 winner?
Coming off the bench into a 0-0 stalemate, Bulut finished the VAR-confirmed penalty chaos with a clinical strike—Süper Lig's most theatrical late winner.
What was the VAR decision?
VAR confirmed a controversial penalty in the 90th minute against Genclerbirligi. The decision proved pivotal to the match's outcome.
What's Genclerbirligi's situation?
Five games, five losses, zero points, -6 goal difference. They're in freefall toward the relegation zone with no margin for error.
Why is this match rated 43/100?
Our Futmetrix algorithm analyzed intensity, balance, and stakes. The final score of 43/100 places this match in the "Average" category.
