Adu Scores First Goal For Turkish Team

Freddy Adu scored his first goal for Turkish club Rizespor with an excellent strike from 20 yards in its 1-0 victory over Gaziantep. Adu took a ball at the edge of the right side of the penalty area, turned away from his defender and fired a curling shot on one bounce inside the far post.

It was his first goal since moving to Turkey in January. Rizespor is second in the Bank Asya 1. League, one point off the lead.

The 21-year-old went the distance and found the back of the net in the 32nd minute, his first professional goal in over a year.

Taking much of the Gaziantep defense by surprise, Adu received a midfield pass stepped up above the box, turned from his defender, and delivered a blazing left-footer out of the reach of Kazim Sari.

The win brings the Rize squad up to 39 points and in second, with the third and fourth place team on 38 each with a game in hand. Rizespor takes the field again on Sunday when they travel to current 16th spot holders Giresunspor.

Adu’s last tally was on February 17, 2010 with Aris Thessaloniki in a 3-0 victory over Skoda Xanthi.

Jozy Altidore, also playing in Turkey, returned to the starting lineup with Bursaspor after missing a game with a minor ankle injury and set up the tying goal in a 1-1 draw with Istanbul BB.