Late Showdown: Valentin Mihăilă Delivers a Stoppage-Time Goal for Rizespor
Valentin Mihăilă, the Romanian international, produced a moment of pure drama in his first appearance for Rizespor in weeks. Introduced in the 65th minute, the fresh return from injury became the highlight of the Turkish Süper Lig clash against Antalyaspor as he ran from his own half, carried the ball into the opposition half, and unleashed an unlikely shot from midfield that clipped the right post and found the net in the 90+1 minute.
How the late goal happened
With Rizespor trailing and pushing for a lifeline, Mihăilă’s breakthrough moment arrived from a distance of about 25 meters from his own goal. He picked up the ball, embarked on a bold solo run, and struck from the center circle, catching Antalyaspor’s defense off guard and sending the stadium into a frenzy as the ball sailed past the goalkeeper. It was a goal that underscored Mihăilă’s willingness to take chances late in a high-stakes match.
Match context and sequence of events
The game had started with Antalyaspor racing to a 2-0 lead by the ninth minute thanks to Rak-Sakyi and Jurecka. Rizespor pulled one back through Dikmen in the 13th minute, and after halftime, Rak-Sakyi completed a first-half brace in the 48th minute to restore a two-goal margin. The visitors then went down to ten men in the 58th minute when van de Streek earned two bookings in a single foul/disciplinary incident, leaving Antalyaspor up 3-1 after the break.
Quicks strikes followed as Zeqiri made it 4-1 in the 86th minute and Cvancara added another for the hosts in the 89th. Mihăilă’s sensational leveller at 90+1 eventually sealed a remarkable 4-3 win for Rizespor, a result that reflected a game full of twists, momentum shifts, and late drama.
Return, impact, and statistics
This star turn came on Mihăilă’s first appearance in Turkey since a layoff of about six weeks. The Romanian winger had logged limited action this season, with a goal tally of one in three matches across roughly 94 minutes of play in Turkey so far. Rizespor’s late comeback was so celebrated because it capped Mihăilă’s return with a personal landmark: his first goal in Turkish football for the club, after a €2 million transfer from Parma.
Transfer context
Rizespor invested €2 million to bring Mihăilă to the Semilune region, a substantial sum that echoed earlier notable transfers in the club’s history. The investment has been watched closely by Turkish football fans and Romanian supporters alike, as Mihăilă seeks to reignite his career after an injury setback and prove his value in a competitive league.
Impact on standings
With the victory, Rizespor moved to 12th place with eight points, moving away from the deeper relegation scrapes, while Antalyaspor sat in 9th with ten points. The late victory added momentum to Mihăilă’s campaign and gave the team a much-needed spark in a critical phase of the campaign.
A quick glance at Romanian football this weekend
For fans following Romanian football this weekend, several intriguing fixtures await: SuperLiga sees Unirea Slobozia hosting Dinamo on Friday at 20:30 on DGS 1, while Liga 2 features Bihor Oradea against Voluntari on Friday at 17:00 on DGS 1. It promises a busy schedule as clubs across Romania chase important results.
Looking ahead
Valentin Mihăilă’s stoppage-time heroics could be a turning point for his confidence and for Rizespor’s season. If he can sustain this level of impact, the Romanian winger may become a critical asset for the club as the league’s second half unfolds, with the potential to influence both results and dividend performances for the squad and its supporters.
