CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON - Monday, May 16, 2011
Freddy Adu picked up an assist in Rizespor's important win over Samsunspor while Jozy Altidore saw second half action over Bursaspor.
Samsunspor 1 - 2 Caykur Rizespor
Rizespor capped off their season with a resounding win over the league leaders, clinching a spot in the promotion play-off and spoiling Samsun's championship aspirations in the process.
Freddy Adu assisted on the opening goal and went the distance as a starter.
Koray Avcı got the ball rolling for the visitors at the edge of the goal box, heading home a Freddy Adu corner from the right side for the 1-0 lead after 11 minutes.
Just after a half-hour of play, Çağrı Yarkın made a fool of Samsun custodian Ahmet Şahin, trapping down his attempted goal kick in the midfield and immediately firing from 30 yards out just inside the right post for a 2-0 lead.
The hosts fought back in the 58th minute, when Nigerian striker Akeem Agbetu was on the tail end of a Samsun drive down the field and slotted past Rize keeper Selçuk Görmüş to make the score 2-1.
Rize held on for the win and claimed the fourth spot in the final standings, setting up a home-and-away playoff with fifth place Orduspor that begins next Monday in Ordu.
Notes
Jozy Altidore appeared in the final 16 minutes of Bursaspor's 3-0 battering of Kasimpasa.
I understand your point of view, but to honestly think that a club in the second league (close to promotion) is that much of a dramatic drop off from first division. Then you may be fooling yourself a bit. The point is that Altidore has produced less over the course of him leaving MLS than Adu has.
Adu can play the game, but needs to be in a system beneficial to his skill set. A system in which he can get a lot of touches early and get involved in the game. Adu has the creativity to create many good opportunities for players. Kljestan, Rogers, and Feilhaber are not nearly as creative and not producing all that well at their respective clubs.
It wouldn't surprise me to see Adu stay with Rizespor if they should be promoted to the first division. Adu just needs to stay focused on working hard, staying on the field, and avoiding what the jersey says on the front. Keep playing well and other teams will come to him. I hope he continues to do well and avoids all distractions that keep him from his ultimate goals. Be well fellas.