ISTANBUL - Trabzonspor ended a successful 2004/05 season with a 5-0 victory over minor rivals Istanbulspor on the last day of the Turkish league to clinch second place and entry into next season's Champions League.
The result means Trabzonspor clinched the second and final spot for Europe's premier club competition at the expense of Galatasaray who finished third with 76 points after beating Denizlispor 4-0 in their home ground on Saturday.
The Istanbul club would have earned entry to the Champions League if Trabzonspor had lost, but they will be now participate in the UEFA Cup along with city rivals Besiktas who came in forth with 69 points.
Black Sea club Trabzonspor wasted little time in their victory bid and a header from defender Tolga Seyhan in the sixth minute preceded low-drives from Guinean midfielder Ibrahim Yattara in the 28th minute and Polish midfielder Miroslaw Szymkoviak in the 4Oth minute which gave them a 3-0 half-time lead.
Turkish international forward Fatih Tekke then scored from the penalty spot in the 64th minute, and Szymkoviak sneaked the ball past the keeper for his second goal of the game in the 72nd.
Trabzonspor, who will have to play in the qualifying round in the Europe's premier club competition, finished with 77 points, six points behind champions Fenerbahce who secured the title for the second year in a row after defeating Galatasaray last week.
Fenerbahce lost to minor rivals Konyaspor 4-2 in an away game on Friday, but the result did not threaten their unassailable lead.
Minnows Sakaryaspor became the third and final team to be relegated to the second division after they lost 4-2 to southeastern club Malatyaspor in an away game on Saturday.
Two other clubs - Akcaabat Sebatspor and Istanbulspor - have already been relegated to the second division.
The three teams who have been promoted to the first division were Sivasspor, Vestel Manisaspor and Kayseri Erciyesspor.
05/28/2005 18:41 GMT