ANKARAGUCU PUT THEIR SEASON BACK ON TRACK !

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

Golly, Gosh and OMG, two wins in a row for Ankaragucu – whatever next ?!   I have an idea ....... let’s make it THREE and then we can start dreaming of a Play-Off place again !

It was a pleasant sunny Spring day yesterday when the kankas met-up at the Stadium.   Apple Kanka Erman, Battle Damaged Kanka Damon and Fellaini Kanka Ahmet.   We were also joined by freiends Suha and Barnsley Nigel who is visiting Ankara.

I was early arriving, so I had my customary Cay in the Sports Cafe and watched some entertaining amateur matches on the side pitches.   Very impressed with DSIspor who were 1-0 up against Vurtkurspor approaching half time when I had to leave that match.   Their No11 scored a cracking goal which Messi would have been proud of.   He collected the ball midway into Vurtkur’s area, ghosted past 3 defenders and let fly into the bottom corner with the goalkeeper nowhere.    I hope Ankaragucu scouts were watching !!

Back to the main event and ..............

ANKARAGUCU   3       Pazarspor    0

As usual, Gecikondu and Maraton were full but a poor attendance in the Kapalis.   There was an impressive 100 in the away end, but unsurprisingly, we didn’t hear a squeak out of them throughout the whole match !

It only took 5 minutes for the Stadium to errupt and for Ankaragucu to open the scoring.   A fairly innocuous back-pass to the Pazar goalkeeper and he miskicked the ball straight to Hasan Kaya who held off a weak challenge from a defender and cooly slotted in.   What a start !

3 minutes later it was almost 2 when Gokhan made a nice run down the left and shot to the near post.   However, all credit to the goalkeeper for getting down to turn the ball out for a corner.

There was a Bursapor chorus on 16 minutes from all the tribunes as Ankaragucu continued to attack the nervous Pazar defence.

6 minutes later the 2^nd goal arrived after a great run down the right by Hasan Ayaroglu.   Almost on the goal line, he made the classic cut-back and Teoman was in the right spot at the right time to tap-in for an easy goal.

Two down but Pazar didn’t drop their heads and there were two scares for Ankaragucu before the half time whistle.   Two breakaways, the first saved by Volkan’s timely tackle as the shot was about to be struck, the 2^nd brought out a great save from Gokhan.

The 2^nd half got underway with Pazar still searching for a way back into the match and they were unlucky 10 minutes in when a goalbound shot hit the post and rebounded to safety with Gokhan beaten.

3 minutes later and Teoman should have done better when he was put clean through from a long ball, but he delayed his shot and the ball was cleared to safety by a tracking back defender.

Even two up, and with Ankaragucu having the lion’s share of possession, the match was still in the balance with Pazar still searching for a way back into the match.

However, it was over as a contest 10 minutes from the end when Ankaragucu made it safe with goal No3.   A cross came in from the right which was met by the in-rushing Hasan Ayaroglu who side-footed the ball in under the dispairing dive of the goalkeeper.

2 minutes later, Levent (who had replaced Teoman), missed a sitter when all he had to do was tap-in when the cross came in from the left.    Unfortunately, all he managed to do was hit ‘fresh air’ and the ball went out for a goal kick.

So, a great team effort with everyone playing their part.   However, I should mention that Fellaini Kanka and I earmarked Aytac as our Man of the Match.   He did everything right at the heart of the defence with his tackling and distribution.   He is becoming Mr Reliable !

Back to The New Sedir we went to celebrate the victorrrreeeeee, and ........ Maniac Kanka Harun’s birthday with his beautiful and charming lady, Hatice.

The burning question now is .............. can Ankaragucu maintain this momentum next week in Koceli and put pressure on the teams all fighting for a Play-Off place ?    Watch this space for the answer !

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim