ANKARAGUCU - DREAMING OF A CUP FINAL ??!!

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

Shock horror....... 4 goals in 2 matches !!! ANKARAGUCU have finally awoken from their summer slumber !!!

ANKARAGUCU 2 Rizespor 1

Maniac Kanka Harun and I met up at the Cappadokia Bar in Kizilay and enjoyed some kofte and liquid refreshment together. The topic of conversation was footie, girls, footie, girls, and more footie, but not necessarily in that order !

Off to the Stadium (in Maraton again) where we met lots of Harun's friends and a few of my old friends from the Anti-X group.

ANKARAGUCU started the match with the same team which defeated Konya and went straight into attacking mode. It was pretty hectic stuff with the Rize keeper being kept a busy man.

After 10 minutes a high cross came in from the left wing and Mustafa, unmarked at the back post, chested the ball down, chose his spot, and gave the keeper no chance. The singing from the 4 tribunes stepped up another octave and we were all happy bunnies !

It was pretty much a midfield battle from Rize with ANKARAGUCU seemingly more in control but again failing to turn their possession into goals. Also, the old problem of the final pass going astray was again creeping into play. Then, just before half time, and against the run of play, came the equaliser.

I'm sure Hikmet Bey will have been furious, as we all were. The Rize attacker took the ball to near the left wing corner flag and did a nutmeg on Murat. He then crossed in for the unmarked Yasin to power in a header. However, Serkan saved the point blank header but could only palm the ball out to the STILL unmarked Yasin who had the easiest of tasks to tap in with Serkan grounded. The defence was for once posted missing !

No panic buttons were pressed after this abomination and ANKARAGUCU came out in the 2nd half attacking Gecikondu end. It was still all ANKARAGUCU and Serkan was rarely troubled in the entire match.

On the 55th minute mark the deserved winning goal came. A great attacking move of inter-passing between Ceyhun and Murat ended with Murat crossing a high ball from the left wing to the unmarked Mustafa on the back post who fired in an unstopable volley for the goal of the match.

Rize tried their best to find another equaliser but most of their efforts were long range and Serkan was never in danger. I wasn't impressed with Rize as a team, and am anticipating that they will struggle to stay up this season ! As usual, the ANKARAGUCU defence generally played well with Abdurrahman Derili again outstanding in defence, but especially consistant as an attaching full back. Man of the match again !

ANKARAGUCU should have been 3 or 4 or 5 up at the final whistle after Bebbe and Silva were clean through on goal with only the keeper to beat. However, instead of doing the sensible thing, like commiting the keeper and going round the keeper, they went the direct route and left us all swearing at their inaptitude ! Only they know what they were trying to do !!!

Bebbe ran himself ragged and all credit to him for his efforts, but he really needs a goal soon to restore his confidence. He is an Augustine `lookalike` and looks natural on and off the ball, but strikers are only human and when they are not scoring it will ultimately affect their standard of play in the long term. I recall Isaac Promise of Gencler going through the same crisis last season !!

Agali is back after his `extended holiday` and came on late in the game as a sub. He is another player who needs to start scoring if he is to `sell himself` to the coach and the fans.

So, another good performance from ANKARAGUCU who are looking more of a settled team now. However, they have to turn their pressure into goals and work on their passing game on the training ground. Hikmet Bey please note !!

It was back to The Cappadokia Bar after the match with yours truly, Maniac Kanka, Huso Kanka, and Nuri Kanka for celebration drinkies !!

In the other match in our group, Besik...spit...tas stuffed Buca from the 2nd League 5-1 in Izmir.

Back to league footie this weekend, and as a reminder, meeting in The Chopin Bar at 12 noon on Sunday for - ANKARAGUCU v Erciyes of Kayseri

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

You can check out all the goals here