Etimesgut Belediye Spor 0-4 Gaziantep FK: Visitors Cruise Into Turkish Cup Rhythm

Gaziantep Futbol Kulübü produced a professional, ruthless display to beat Etimesgut Belediye Spor 4-0 in the TUR Kupası on 27 October 2026, turning a potentially awkward away tie into a comfortable cup victory. The Super Lig side controlled possession from the opening exchanges, survived a brief spell of home pressure, and then pulled away with a clinical second-half performance under the floodlights in Etimesgut.

Match overview

The Turkish Cup meeting paired lower-league hosts Etimesgut Belediye Spor with top-flight opposition, and the gap in quality eventually told. Gaziantep FK were sharper in the final third, more composed in possession and far more decisive in the key moments. Etimesgut worked hard and had their moments, particularly before the opening goal, but the visitors’ finishing and game management proved the difference.

Gaziantep opened the scoring midway through the first half and doubled their advantage before the interval. Two further goals after the break removed any lingering doubt and allowed the visitors to manage the closing stages with comfort. The clean sheet was an added bonus for a side that will now look ahead to the next round with confidence.

Key moments

• 12th minute: Etimesgut’s best early chance arrives when a deep cross finds the far post, but the header is directed wide under pressure.
• 23rd minute: Gaziantep take the lead. Alexandru Maxim collects the ball on the edge of the area, shifts onto his left foot and curls a low effort beyond the home goalkeeper.
• 39th minute: The visitors double the lead on the counter. Denis Drăguș times his run perfectly, receives a through ball and finishes calmly one-on-one.
• 58th minute: Etimesgut goalkeeper makes a strong save to deny a third, briefly raising hopes of a comeback.
• 64th minute: Gaziantep restore control. Drăguș turns provider this time, teeing up Mirza Cihan for a close-range finish.
• 78th minute: Lazar Marković adds a fourth with a composed finish after another quick transition, sealing the result.

Tactical story

Gaziantep FK set up with a patient build-up, using Maxim as the creative hub between midfield and attack. Their full-backs pushed high to stretch Etimesgut’s back line, while the front players continually rotated to create space in the channels. The approach worked best when the visitors won the ball back quickly and attacked before the home side could reset.

Etimesgut’s plan was clear: stay compact, defend the central areas and look for set pieces or counter-attacks. It worked for long spells in the first half, but once Gaziantep scored the opener, the home side were forced to open up. That increased the space available to the visitors, who used it ruthlessly after the interval. Gaziantep’s midfield screening also limited Etimesgut’s ability to build sustained pressure, and the back four dealt comfortably with most crosses into the box.

Standout players

Alexandru Maxim was the game’s chief conductor, combining intelligent movement with precise passing and a well-taken opening goal. Denis Drăguș was equally influential, scoring one and assisting another with the kind of sharp movement that troubled Etimesgut all evening. Mirza Cihan’s energy in the final third gave Gaziantep another dimension, while Lazar Marković’s late goal underlined the depth available to the visitors.

For Etimesgut, the goalkeeper deserved credit for several saves that kept the scoreline respectable, and the captain’s organisation helped the hosts avoid a heavier defeat. The home side’s effort never wavered, even as the game slipped away in the second half.

What the result means

The 4-0 win sends Gaziantep FK into the next round of the Turkish Cup with momentum and a clean sheet. For Etimesgut Belediye Spor, the cup run ends, but the performance offered useful lessons against higher-level opposition. The result also underlined the importance of taking chances: Etimesgut’s promising early spell came and went without a goal, and Gaziantep made them pay at the other end.

For neutral supporters, the match was a reminder of how quickly cup ties can turn when a top-flight side finds its rhythm. Gaziantep’s finishing, pressing structure and squad depth were all on display. On this evidence, they will be a difficult opponent in the rounds ahead.