ISTANBUL (Interstat) — Substitute Duran Şahin scored a 78th-minute winner as Istanbulspor rallied to defeat crosstown rival Sariyer 2-1 in a 1. Lig match on Saturday at Yusuf Ziya Öniş Stadyumu.

The victory, sealed by a late flurry of goals and disciplinary actions, improved Istanbulspor’s league record to four wins, eight draws and five losses. Sariyer’s record in the Turkish second division fell to five wins, four draws and 10 losses.

The match, played on Dec. 13, 2025, defied pregame projections. Statistical models heavily favored the home side, but Istanbulspor’s resilience on the road secured three critical points.

The first half was a tense, physical affair that produced more yellow cards than scoring chances. Sariyer defender Fatih Kuruçuk and Istanbulspor midfielder Moustafa Camara were both booked in the 23rd minute following a clash. Istanbulspor defender Papy Djilobodji received a yellow card in the 35th minute.

The deadlock was broken just before halftime. In the 40th minute, Camara atoned for his earlier booking by putting the visitors ahead 1-0. He finished an assist from defender Fatih Kuruçuk, marking a key contribution before the break.

Sariyer, despite being outplayed for long stretches, found an equalizer against the run of play. Substitute Mustafa Sol leveled the score at 1-1 in the 85th minute, assisted by fellow substitute Mamadou Mendy. The goal sparked immediate chaos, however, as both Mendy and Sariyer midfielder Oğuzhan Berber were shown yellow cards during the celebration. Sariyer’s Hasan Emre Yeşilyurt was also booked a minute later.

The drama had truly begun just minutes earlier. Istanbulspor’s match-winner, Şahin, had entered the game as a substitute and made an instant impact. He restored Istanbulspor’s lead at 2-1 in the 78th minute, finishing a pass from Camara to complete the midfielder’s influential one-goal, one-assist performance. The assist provider on Şahin’s goal was substitute Ömer Faruk Duymaz, who was shown a yellow card in the 79th minute.

Istanbulspor’s road victory builds on a positive result from the previous weekend, a 2-1 win over Sivasspor, and helps distance the team from a brutal 5-0 loss to Bodrumspor in early November. The team’s form remains inconsistent, but Saturday’s win provides momentum.

For Sariyer, the loss is a setback following a strong 3-0 victory at Hatayspor on Dec. 8. Their home form has been a particular weakness this season, with this defeat marking their sixth loss at Yusuf Ziya Öniş Stadyumu.

Istanbulspor will look to continue its improved form when it hosts Vanspor FK on Dec. 21. Sariyer aims to rebound quickly with a visit to Esenler Erokspor on Dec. 19.