galatasaray make flying start published: wednesday 13 august 2003, 23.00cet
galatasaray sk 3-0 pfc cska sofia three first-half goals put galatasaray in command in istanbul.
galatasaray sk are within sight of an seventh consecutive uefa champions league group stage appearance after a 3-0 home win against pfc cska sofia in the first leg of their third qualifying round tie.
early goal the turkish side dominated the first half against the bulgarian champions, and took just three minutes to open the scoring. hasan sas was the man on target as he chipped in a left-footed shot.
lead extended hasan sas then turned provider two minutes later as he cut in from the right and fed hakan sükür, recently re-signed from england's blackburn rovers fc, to tap in. galatasaray remained on top and eight minutes from half-time, arif erdem, on as substitute for the injured ümit karan, scored their third.
defence firm after the break, galatasaray took their foot off the gas and allowed cska back into the game. however, they were not able to break through the home defence and both hasan sas and hakan sükür, enjoying their renewed striking partnership, went close to making it 4-0.
substitute dismissed things got worse for cska when evgeni iordanov was brought on up front on 57 minutes - only to be sent off within two minutes for a foul on home goalkeeper faryd mondragón. another new galatasaray signing, frank de boer, hit the crossbar eight minutes before the end from a free-kick, but they will happy with the lead they take to sofia in a fortnight's time for the second leg.
