Turkish Super Lig

USMNT striker Haji Wright bags brace and assist vs. Kayserispor

USMNT and Antalyaspor striker Haji Wright scored twice and got an assist during Saturday’s Turkish Süper Lig game vs. Kayserispor where his side won 4-0.

Wright missed all of February and most of January with a thigh injury and made his return to the field on March 6. He rediscovered his goal scoring form Saturday netting his fourth brace of the season.

‘Literally a tragedy’ — Missing footballer Atsu nearly left Turkey hours before earthquake hit

ANKARA — Missing footballer Christian Atsu was scheduled to fly out of southern Turkey hours before last week's devastating earthquake, but Hatayspor's manager said the Ghanaian opted to stay with the club after scoring a winning goal in their Feb. 5 Super Lig match.

"Atsu wanted to play more and asked for permission from his coach to leave if he wasn't going to get it," Hatayspor manager Fatih Ilek told a radio channel on Friday.

"He bought a ticket to fly to Istanbul, and from there to France. He was going to look for a club to get more playing time."

Ghana’s Christian Atsu still missing after Turkey earthquake

Ghanaian soccer player Christian Atsu remains missing after two devastating earthquakes struck Turkey and Syria, Hatayspor director Volkan Demirel told Reuters on Wednesday

Atsu, 31, was reported to have been rescued from the rubble with injuries and transported to hospital following Monday's huge quakes.

"There is no information on his whereabouts yet, we don't know where he is," Demirel said. "It's not the case that he was pulled out or taken anywhere else."

Ghana international Christian Atsu among those missing in Turkey after earthquake

The combined death toll in Turkey and Syria has risen to at least 2,600 from two earthquakes that struck the countries within the space of 12 hours. That number is expected to increase rapidly with many people still missing and trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings.

One of those still unaccounted for is former Newcastle winger and Ghana international Christian Atsu after the collapse of an apartment building in Hatay, Turkey.

In search of an equalizer — The best heading threats at the World Cup

It's the 88th minute of a World Cup knockout stage game. Your country is clinging to a 1-0 lead and the pressure is mounting. After an extended period of play in your defensive third, the ball goes out for a corner kick.

You can finally take a breath, but who is this sauntering forward into the penalty area? It's the 6-6 center back who has barely left his half all game. His sizeable forehead and broad shoulders stand above the scrum forming in the 18. A pit grows in your stomach as you can almost see the scoreboard saying "1-1."

Family Devastated After Shoya Nakajima's Horrendous Debut In Turkish Süper Lig

Japanese international Shoya Nakajima had his debut in Turkish side Antalyaspor over the weekend in a game against Süper Lig leader Adana Demirspor FC, and boy, oh boy! I'm sure he was expecting a happier experience than the sour 20 seconds he was able to be on the field. 

USMNT Strikers In Hot Form With Multiple Goals And Assists This Weekend

If someone had asked me close to this time last year which USMNT strikers would go to Qatar I would have had Ricadro Pepi top of mind. Fast forward to present day and the job for the starting striker at the World Cup with the USMNT is there for the taking with several bidders.

Josh Sargent is in the best form of his career, Jordan Pefok has been a menace in front of goal for Union Berlin and Haji Wright is racking up the goals in Turkey. All three USMNT strikers had goal contributions this weekend.

20,000 People In Turkey Request Name Change To Famous Soccer Coach

No country has been distancing itself from middle school putdowns as effectively as Turkey this summer.

Back in June, the United Nations agreed to officially change the country's name from Turkey to its Turkish name of Türkiye. While obviously not a big deal inside the country, NPR's Peter Kenyon reported that the move was a rebrand "to dissociate the country's name from the bird that traditionally appears on American dining tables at Thanksgiving and from the slang definition of a turkey as something that doesn't work or is foolish."

Edin Višća Suffers Horrific Arm Injury After Trying To Draw Cheap Foul

Süper Lig legend Edin Višća suffered one of the most horrifying arm injuries we’ve ever seen in soccer on Friday. The veteran of nearly 400 matches in Turkey’s top flights was attempting to draw a foul call when he fell on his arm during Trabzonspor’s 1-0 win over Hatayspor on Friday. 

Content warning: The following images are extremely graphic. Viewer discretion is advised.

Seriously, don’t say we didn’t warn you.

I’m Not Crying, You Are — Pulisic Gifts Debut Goal To Childhood Friend

Before last night, casual U.S. soccer fans may not have had any idea who Haji Wright is. After last night's impressive 3-0 win against Morocco, that changed. Wright came on as a halftime substitute and immediately impressed, with a series of clever flick-on passes in build-up play and surging runs into the box that showcased his attacking threat. It was his 64th-minute penalty conversion, however, that Wright and USMNT fans alike will never forget. 

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