Late Heroics for Rizespor in Antalya
Valentin Mihăilă, Romania’s international winger, delivered a moment of magic in stoppage time to cap a dramatic Turkish Süper Lig clash. In a match staged in Antalya, Mihăilă rifled a shot from the center circle that burst into the net, sealing a 4-3 victory for Rizespor over Antalyaspor. The goal was a crowning moment for a player returning from a lengthy injury layoff, marking his first Turkish goal since rejoining the squad earlier this season.
From the Bench to a Moment of Brilliance
Introduced onto the field in the 65th minute, Mihăilă started his late cameo around 25 meters from his own goal, guiding the ball toward the opponents’ goal with a calmness that belied the high-stakes situation. What followed was an audacious strike from the midway circle, a shot that caught the goalkeeper by surprise and found the back of the net in the 90+1st minute. It was a moment that demonstrated Mihăilă’s ability to impact games even after an extended spell on the sidelines.
Match Narrative: A Rollercoaster in Antalya
The game unfolded as a high-octane spectacle. Antalyaspor burst into an early lead with two goals inside the first 12 minutes, courtesy of Rak-Sakyi and Jurecka. Rizespor hit back through Dikmen in the 13th minute to narrow the gap, and the visitors pressed on after the break. A standout moment for Antalyaspor came in the 58th minute when Van de Streek received two yellow cards in quick succession for protests, reducing the home side to ten players. Yet the hosts responded with another surge of intensity, with Rak-Sakyi completing a brace in the 48th minute to push the scoreline to 3-1.
The turning point in the game arrived late on, as Zeqiri extended Antalyaspor’s lead to 4-1 in the 86th minute, only for Cvancara to pull one back in the 89th minute. Mihăilă’s late strike then completed the scoring, leaving spectators stunned and the final result read 4-3 in favor of Rizespor.
Implications and Context
The victory lifts Rizespor to 12th place with eight points, a boost that comes at a crucial stage of the season. Antalyaspor, meanwhile, remains in 9th place with ten points, but the late concession will sting the hosts after a strong push throughout the 90 minutes. For Mihăilă, the goal is more than a personal milestone; it signals a successful return to competitive action after a roughly six-week absence caused by injury. This was his first appearance since rejoining the squad, and one moment of opportunism in Antalya may just be the catalyst needed for his second stint in Turkey to take off.
Transfer Backdrop and Career Highlights
Rizespor, who paid €2 million to sign Mihăilă from Parma, had hoped to bolster their attacking options with the Romanian winger. The fee echoes a historic transfer precedent for the club, who previously spent a similar sum in 2013 on another notable acquisition. Mihăilă’s quick adaptation to Turkish football, combined with this late winner, could well be a turning point in his tenure with Rizespor and in the team’s pursuit of stability in the league standings.
Looking Ahead
As Mihăilă basks in the glow of a late-game winner, attention will turn to how he sustains this level of impact as the season progresses. For Rizespor, the win could act as a confidence booster and a signal to opponents that they are capable of striking late and turning games on their head. The next fixtures will test whether the forward momentum can be converted into a consistent run of results, with Mihăilă’s return a potentially pivotal factor in the days to come.
