Chidozie Awaziem produced a rare attacking display to help Konyaspor beat Gençlerbirliği 2-0 in the Turkish Super Lig on Sunday, ending their three-game winless and goalless run while lifting them out of the relegation zone.
The Super Eagles defender scored once in each half at the Konya Büyükşehir Stadium, giving his side the breakthrough they had struggled to find in recent league outings. His brace secured three valuable points and offered Konyaspor a timely boost before a demanding meeting with reigning champions Galatasaray.
For a player primarily known for his defensive work, the double was an eye-catching contribution in a match that carried significance beyond the scoreline.
Konyaspor began on the front foot, controlling possession and creating opportunities, but had to wait until the 43rd minute to turn their pressure into a goal.
Awaziem found the breakthrough shortly before half-time, giving the hosts a 1-0 advantage at the interval after their earlier attempts had failed to produce a reward.
Gençlerbirliği enjoyed more of the ball after the restart as they searched for an equalizer, but Konyaspor struck again in the 56th minute.
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The second goal came after the visitors failed to clear a corner, allowing Awaziem to finish from close range and double his tally for the afternoon.
The defender’s intervention gave Konyaspor greater control of the contest, although the visitors still had an opportunity to make the closing stages uncomfortable.
Gençlerbirliği were handed a chance to reduce the deficit in the 72nd minute when Tiago Gouveia was fouled inside the penalty area.
Franco Tongya stepped up to take the spot-kick, but goalkeeper Bahadir Han Gündördü produced an excellent save to preserve Konyaspor’s two-goal lead.
The visitors continued to search for a way back into the match, but the hosts remained organised and protected their advantage to secure a clean sheet.
It was Konyaspor’s fourth clean sheet in their last five matches, providing further encouragement alongside the attacking contribution that settled Sunday’s contest.
Konyaspor climb out of the relegation zone
The victory moved Konyaspor up to 14th in the Super Lig standings, with eight points from nine matches, lifting them out of the relegation zone. Gençlerbirliği, also on eight points, dropped to 16th after suffering their fifth defeat of the campaign.
The result ended a frustrating spell in which they had gone three league games without scoring or winning. Awaziem’s brace supplied the decisive edge, while the clean sheet demonstrated the defensive resilience that has been a more consistent feature of their recent performances.
The challenge now is to turn that relief into sustained progress rather than allow the victory to become an isolated response.
Osimhen’s Galatasaray await after Awaziem’s big contribution
Konyaspor face a difficult test on Friday when they host reigning champions Galatasaray, a fixture that will offer a clearer measure of whether they can carry Sunday’s momentum into another demanding contest.
Gençlerbirliği, meanwhile, turn their attention to the Turkish Cup, where they welcome Karaköprü Belediyespor on Thursday.
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Awaziem will take confidence from a performance in which he influenced both ends of the pitch’s most decisive moments. His primary responsibilities remain defensive, but his two goals proved the difference in a match Konyaspor desperately needed to win.
