Greetings Kankas and Kankies.
A hard fought victory last night sees ANKARAGUCU sitting in 2nd top spot in the League, but looks can sometimes be deceptive !
ANKARAGUCU 3 Denizlispor 2
We met, as usual, in the Chopin Bar for pre-match `refreshments` and footie analysis. However, a very poor turn-out by kankas with only a few in attendance. Maniac Kanka Harun, Yankee Kanka, Oz Kanka and I were joined by a new kanka called Erman. He and I had struck-up a conversation about footie and he asked if he could join us. Welcome to the Kanka Group Erman !
Once again the Bilkent Kankas were posted missing. Perhaps Moutaineering Kanka Robbie was attempting to scale the heights of Elmadag Mountain and steal Eski Kanka’s glory ?!
Into the Stadium in Maraton and a full Stadium of ANKARAGUCU supporters. Needless to say, the `away end` was almost empty !
Similar to last week, ANKARAGUCU started the match like an express train and it was an onslaught on the Denizli goal with Denizli well and truly on the back foot. Also, and similar to last week, the Referee, Aytekin Durmaz, awarded a `soft` penalty after 5 minutes. However, on this occasion ANKARAGUCU were the recipients !
The referee decided that Bebbe had been tripped in the box when he was about to shoot – seemed to me that he stumbled ! No-matter, we must be thankful for small mercies !
Krita stepped up and despatched the penalty with Souleymanou well beaten. Cue…… raise the volume of the singing and put Denizli to the sword ? Wrong !!
Denizli started to play a bit and were threading passes around and giving ANKARAGUCU some problems at the back. Unlike last week, Serkan in goal was not having a good evening and looked unsure of himself.
It was no surprise therefore when Denizli equalised after 15 minutes. A free kick well outside the penalty box was struck low and hard by Selahattin and it zoomed into the goal with Serkan rooted to the spot. It may have taken a deflection, but the question has to be asked……. Where was the defensive wall ??!!
It was end to end stuff now and then 10 minutes before the break ANKARAGUCU struck with a fast flowing move out of defence with Bebbe and Krita exchanging passes to put Murat through and he put the ball away for a stunning goal.
The half-time whistle went and we were then entertained to a fantastic firework display just outside the Stadium. Was this going to be the touchpaper to ignite ANKARAGUCU into action in the 2nd half ? No !!!
Denizli resumed looking the stronger team and the more likely to score. However, ANKARAGUCU increased their lead against the run of play when Bebbe scored the goal of the match with a glancing header from another fast breakaway. Chants of `Beh-Beh-Beh-Beh` and another few choruses of the `Olay Olay Olay` song and the Stadium sensed a victory.
I have to give Denizli credit again. Their heads never went down and they continued to press forward looking to salvage something from the match. ANKARAGUCU were looking shaky at the back and the post and cross-bar came to their rescue a few times and Serkan was looking none too confident.
Denizli were rewarded in the last minute with a scrambled goal by Musa in a goalmouth melee when he poked the ball in with Serkan nowhere.
Time added on was a nerve racking experience with Denizli continuing to press forward in search of the equaliser.
ANKARAGUCU held on and won the 3 points, but I have to say that it was an extremely fortunate evening for ANKARAGUCU. Other teams may well have punished ANKARAGUCU and I’m sure Herr Briegel will be focusing his players minds this week on their defensive frailties and keeping ball possession in the run-up to next week’s match away to Galatasaray.
Yes, okay, 2 wins out of 2 is a good start to the season, but there are still weaknesses in the team which must be improved upon before we start dreaming about YooRo footie next
season !
Looking to next weekend, we will be watching the Galatasaray v ANKARAGUCU match in either The Cappadokia Bar or The Chopin Bar on Sunday KO 9.45pm. Oz Kanka will send out details nearer the time.
All the best from Eski Kanka Jim
The Round Ball in Ankara! Dedicated to football lovers in Ankara (Except for those who follow Osmanlispor)
iyi gününde kötü gününde hep beraberiz çünkü biz ANKARAGÜÇLÜYÜZ!
ReplyDeletethanx jimbo good report.
istanbul wait for the ANKARAGÜCÜ EXPRESS!
Hi Jim,
ReplyDeletethank you for your warm welcome.
meeting you was very nice
hope to see you soon
Erman
We were late but, at least we were there at the stadium to support Ankaragucu. Unfortunately, Eski Kanka forgot to remind us that the stadium was full all maraton and gecekondu tickets were sold out, even couple of hundreds supporters begging to get in. Anyway, next time I will try to get there a bit earlier.
ReplyDeleteMurat
well if the ankaragucu express takes as long as the hi speed rail between ankara and istanbul we have time for a meal or two, haircut, couple of championships etc......yours not in fear and trembling......
ReplyDeleteDesert Kanka arriving at the cow's tail late.... mmmmm.... nothing ever changes !!
ReplyDeleteVery disappointing for us all, especially after I had told everyone about his fantastic singing talent which the Stadium hasn't witnessed since he left for the African desert many moons ago.
As I said to Suleyman last night, you must arrive at the Chopin at the appointed time to avoid disappointment.
All the `sleeping` Ankaragucu supporters are now coming out of the woodwork to witness the express train footie now being played. Hence the Stadium is FULL for home matches these days.
Gulay said she was not trembling now, but..... I'm sure she will be on Sunday when the Ankaragucu Express takes control of the match and opens the scoring !!!
Bring it on !!!!