Caykur Rizespor started the new half-season with a super home win against Diyarbakirspor, with Egyptian centre-back Beshir El Tabei playing the full game. The match was played on a fine surface despite the snow which had all been gathered on the outskirts of the pitch.

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Beshir had pulled out of the national team despite being called up as he claimed he would not be fully concentrated due to personal problems. In this Turkish League game he seemed less concentrated than usual but was enthusiastic - screaming at his team-mates and pointing around in a captain-like role. Despite this, his actual play was sound as a whole but on too many occasions there were slip-ups.

Rizespor relied heavily on counter attacks against their attacking opposition, and goalkeeper Zdravkov showed a brilliant performance stopping many early Diyarbakir efforts. Then with their real first chance near the end of the half, Rize managed to score after a long ball from the left was met perfectly by Ferdi who guided the ball above the keeper on the half-volley and into the side of the net.

The second half saw attack after attack from Diyarbakir, one in which the ball was put into the box from the centre of the park. Beshir was the closest Rize defender to the ball and charged at it with his head only to not reach it. Fortunately, the header which followed merely tipped the top of the bar.

Diyarbakir looked like they'd get an equaliser, but their defence played with fire at the back third and they gave the ball away very easily to Altan, who had a simple job of finishing the ball past the keeper. This made the score 2-0 with just a quarter of an hour left.