Düzcespor claimed a hard-fought 1-0 away win against Zonguldak in the Türkiye Kupası on 7 October 2026. A single goal was enough to settle a cagey knockout tie and send the visitors through to the next round at the expense of their hosts.

Match Overview

Zonguldak started brightly in front of their home supporters, pressing aggressively and forcing Düzcespor into a series of early clearances. However, the visitors weathered the storm and gradually grew into the game, using their experience to slow the tempo and frustrate the hosts. The decisive moment came in the second half when Düzcespor capitalised on a rare defensive lapse, and from there they defended their lead with maturity and no little grit.

Key Moments

• 18th minute: Zonguldak’s best chance of the first half, a powerful header from a corner, is cleared off the line by a Düzcespor defender.
• 42nd minute: Düzcespor’s goalkeeper makes a superb one-handed save to deny a curling effort from outside the box.
• 71st minute: The winning goal. Hüseyin Atalay pounces on a loose ball in the penalty area and fires it into the roof of the net.
• 90+3 minutes: Zonguldak’s last-ditch attack ends with a shot that flies wide, confirming Düzcespor’s place in the next round.

Tactical Story

Zonguldak adopted a 4-3-3 formation, looking to use their wingers to stretch the play and deliver early crosses. Düzcespor, by contrast, set up in a compact 4-4-2, conceding possession in harmless areas and looking to spring quick counter-attacks. The away side’s midfield two worked tirelessly to shield the back four, and their disciplined shape forced Zonguldak into hopeful long shots. The winning goal came from exactly the kind of transition Düzcespor had planned for, with a quick turnover leading to a composed finish.

Standout Players

Hüseyin Atalay will grab the headlines for his match-winning goal, a striker’s finish that rewarded his intelligent movement all evening. Düzcespor’s goalkeeper was equally important, making two crucial saves in each half to preserve the clean sheet. For Zonguldak, the central defender was a towering presence, winning most aerial duels, but his teammates could not find the equaliser their effort perhaps deserved.

What It Means for the Cup

Düzcespor progress to the next round of the Türkiye Kupası with a morale-boosting away victory that demonstrates their ability to grind out results in knockout football. Zonguldak exit the competition with disappointment but can focus on their league campaign, having shown they can compete for long spells. For Düzcespor, the cup run offers a welcome distraction and a chance to measure themselves against stronger opposition in the rounds ahead.