Kelechi Iheanacho continued his remarkable goal scoring run despite Bursaspor suffering a dramatic 2-1 home defeat to Mardin 1969 Spor in the Turkish second division on Sunday, earning an 8.3 SofaScore match rating after scoring his 12th goal in nine league appearances.
The Nigerian striker struck in the 81st minute to cancel out Tonio Teklic’s opener, but Zdravko Dimitrov scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time to hand Bursaspor their first home defeat in one year and 13 days.
The result ended Bursaspor’s impressive run-in front of their supporters, but Iheanacho’s individual performance offered another reminder of his outstanding form since arriving at the Turkish club as a free agent in the summer.
Despite Bursaspor’s defeat, Iheanacho delivered another impressive performance, taking his tally to 12 goals and 14 goal contributions in nine league appearances. Photocredit: Bursaspor.
Iheanacho’s numbers explain his rating
The 29-year-old registered seven shots, with four on target, and scored with one of his five attempts from outside the penalty area. His equaliser was a superb long range effort that brought Bursaspor back into the contest.
Despite recording an expected goals figure of just 0.40 and an expected goals on target value of 0.36, Iheanacho produced four shots on target, demonstrating his willingness to test the opposition goalkeeper from different positions.
He also completed 18 of his 23 passes, with eight accurate passes in the final third, six progressive carries and one successful dribble from two attempts. Defensively, he won four of seven duels and registered one clearance.
Although he did not record a key pass or an assist, his shooting volume, ability to create danger from distance and crucial equaliser helped explain why he received an 8.3 rating despite his team’s defeat.
Iheanacho’s contribution has been particularly significant for a Bursaspor side that has scored 17 league goals this season.
According to Flashcore figures published after Sunday’s match, he has been involved in 14 goal contributions, 12 goals and two assists accounting for 82.4 per cent of the team’s total.
Iheanacho has captured the hearts of Bursaspor fans, with loads of messages displayed to cheer the Super star. Photocredit: Bursaspor
Ten consecutive games with a goal
Sunday’s strike extended Iheanacho’s scoring streak to 10 consecutive matches for club and country.
He has now scored in nine straight appearances for Bursaspor in the Turkish First League, while his goal for Nigeria in the Super Eagles’ 3-3 international friendly draw against Russia on 6 October brought his combined run to double figures.
His consistency has also seen him equal and subsequently surpass a Bursaspor scoring-streak mark previously associated with Fernandao during the 2014/15 season, according to reports from Turkey.
Whether any player has recorded a longer scoring streak in the division, particularly a foreign player, remains to be established.
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Nevertheless, Iheanacho’s current run is an impressive achievement and underlines the impact he has made since joining the club.
Bursaspor suffer rare setback
The defeat was a significant blow for Bursaspor, who had enjoyed a strong start to the 2026/27 campaign.
Before Sunday’s match, the club had gone 35 matches across competitions since November 2025, recording 25 wins and six draws, with multiple winning runs of four consecutive matches.
Their loss to Mardin was only their fourth defeat across all competitions during that period.
Bursaspor suffered their first home defeat in one year and 13 days after losing 2-1 to Mardin 1969 Spor, leaving them on 19 points in the league standings. Photocredit: EN Haberler
It was also their second league defeat of the current campaign and their first at home in one year and 13 days. Bursaspor remained on 19 points following the loss, three points behind league leaders Kayserispor.
Mardin, meanwhile, secured the victory through Teklic’s 21st-minute opener and Dimitrov’s dramatic stoppage time winner in their first match under new head coach Ivaylo Petev.
The visitors finished with 10 men after Baba Alhassan was sent off in the 90th minute plus seven.
The late goal turned what had looked like a hard earned point into a painful defeat. however, it was another productive afternoon for Iheanacho in a season that is rapidly becoming one of the most encouraging spells of his recent career.
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The Nigerian striker will now look to maintain his scoring form when Bursaspor travel to face Muğlaspor on Thursday, 15 October.
After his successful spell at Celtic, where he helped the Scottish club win the league and Scottish Cup double, Iheanacho appears to have found a new platform to revive his career.
His latest performance showed that even when Bursaspor stumble, he remains a major threat in front of goal.
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