John Boye’s Erciyesspor let another lead slip

The Turkish strugglers remain embroiled in the relegation mire after a 2-2 draw with Mersin in the Super Lig

John Boye delivered a fine performance, but it was not enough to help Kayseri Erciyesspor avoid defeat at home to Mersin.

Fatih Tekke’s side headed into this match on the back of a desperate home defeat to Sivasspor. Despite leading 2-0 against the Ygidos last weekend, they capitulated in the last 25 minutes and fell to a 3-2 defeat.

It was a worryingly similar story for the Blue Dragons against Mersin this weekend, as Boye and his teammates let another comfortable advantage slide.

They started nervously against Mersin, a testament to their late flip against Sivasspor.

However, they opened the scoring just before the break when right winger Ogulcan Cagalayan beat Muammer Yildirim after an assist from Bjorn Vleminckx.

It was two six minutes later, when Cameroon international Jacques Zoua fired Erciyesspor even further ahead.

However, their lead was only to last three minutes, when Gokcek Vederson scored from the spot.

Nerves began creeping back into Kayseri Erciyesspor’s game, as the half wore on, and it was inevitable that they would concede again.

Burkina Faso forward Prejuce Nakoulma hit the woodwork on 86 minutes, before the same player set up Loret Sadiku for a 90th-minute equaliser.

Despite his side’s disappointing showing, Boye was a key performer for Erciyesspor—making seven clearances, three interceptions and winning two aerial battles, according to WhoScored.

A mood of pessimism enveloped the crowd at the Kadir Has Stadium on the final whistle, with the side know that another opportunity to pick up points had passed them by.

With only four games to play, the Panthers remain six points off safety, and Rizespor in 15th place. The Black Sea Sparrowhawk face Waris Majeed’s Trabzonspor on Sunday.