ANKARAGUCU – KUTLAMA ZEHIR OLDU !!

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

Headline nicked from The Hurriyet, which means ( Jim’s translation ..... ‘Initial celebrations became poisonous’ !!).

Not for the first time this season, Ankaragucu had the lion’s share of possession but failed to take all 3 points.   Apparently sitting pretty 1-0 up at half time, it looked like Ankaragucu was set to win the top of the table clash.   However, as Cider Kanka John said at the end of the match ........... ‘it was a game of 2 halves’ !    Manisa scored two clinical 2^nd half goals to leave Ankaragucu’s ‘Champions Dream’ in tatters and Manisa 5 points ahead of Ankaragucu at the top of the league !

ANKARAGUCU     1        Manisaspor      2

Team – Ferhat, Goksu, Gurkan, Vokan, Onur, Salih, Sertan, Omer, Hasan A, Mehmet Y and Emrah.

Substitutes used – Timur, Harun and Hasan K

The kankas met up at the Sports Cafe and in the Stadium – Maniac Kanka Harun, Apple Kanka Erman, Cider Kanka John, Battle Damaged Kanka Damon, Scouse Kanka Marcus with his friend Felix, Posh Kanka Ahmet, Essex Boy Kanka Matt and Genclerbirligi Kanka Alex.

The attendance was very impressive with all the tribunes full and in fine voice.   The away end had about 100 who had made the trip north, but their attempts at chanting was drowned-out every time they attempted it !

As I said, it was all Ankaragucu in the 1^st half with Emrah looking particulary sharp up front and he should have scored in the 5^th minute but his ferocious shot was blocked by a defender.

Hasan A had a great goalbound shot well saved by Bayram on the 18^th minute and this prompted the ‘Boo Boys’ in Gecikondu to direct their wrath at Bayram (ex-Ankaragucu goalkeeper who ‘jumped ship’ last season) everytime he touched the ball.

3 minutes later there was yet anoother great chance when Emrah received the ball from a cut-back, and from being unmarked on the penalty spot, he blasted well over.

However, the Ankaragucu pressure finally paid off in the 29^th minute when Emrah was at the end of a great passing move just outside the penalty box on the left to fired in a rocket to the top right with Bayram well beaten.

Mehmet Yildiz should have extended the lead on the 34^th minute mark when his shot was parried by Bayram, but he was too slow to react to the loose ball and Bayram had time to smother it.  Then, 4 minutes later Hasan A had his shot blocked.

Almost on the half time whistle and Manisa had their one chance of the half when a free kick was awarded just ouside the penalty box.   Fortunately it sailed over the bar.

Lots of happy faces at half time and we were confident that the Ankaragucu pressure would result in another goal or two.   However, as I’ve said on this blog many times, having most of the possession doesn’t necessarily translate into goals, and that’s what happened in this match.   Manisa had two chances to score and they made them count !!

Ankaragucu started the 2^nd half on the attack again.   Hasan A was put throught after one minute’s play but he scuffed his shot straight at Bayram.   2 minutes later Sertan tried his luck, but his shot (or was it a lob ?!) was just over the bar.

2  minutes later, Manisa silenced our celebrations.   A cross came over from the right to an unmarked Manisa attacker lurking at the back post and his downward header deceived Ferhat and bounced in for the equaliser.

Ankaragucu continued to attack in their attempt to get back in front but Manisa had their tails up and were gradually winning the midfield battle and the 50/50 balls.   Some of their tackling was tigerish, and I must confess at this stage to privately thinking that I would accept the one point !

Sertan had another effort saved by Bayram in the 54^th minute.   Then, to my amazement, Kemal Bey sent on Timur for Emrah with ‘Cart Horse’ Mehmet Y still on the pitch !

The final nail in the coffin came in the 63^rd minute when there was needless fiddling around with the ball near the right wing corner flag.   The TWO Ankaragucu defenders failed to deal with a routine situation against two Manisa players who amazingly won the ball, and one of them crossed to the unmarked Manisa midfielder (No61) hovering just outside the penalty box.   He had all the time in the world to look up and place his well hit shot into the corner of the goal with Ferhat well beaten.

We looked heavenwards for some divine intervention, but there was none forthcoming !!

Then in the 67^th minute, another amazing decision from Kemal Bey when he pulled Sertan off and replaced him with Harun.   And still .......... Mehmet Y was left on to lumber around and fall down whenver he was challenged for the ball !

At last, with only 10 minutes remaining, he made his momentous decision to take Mehmet Y off to a chorus of derisory whistling.   Hasan K replaced him.

One minute later, and with Ankaragucu ‘clutching at straws’, they had a penalty claim waved away by the referee.   He was right there on the spot so there can be no argument with his decision.

There was only time left for the impressive Goksu to go it alone and try his luck from a break on the right, but his shot was blolcked and Manisa easily ran the clock down.

So, a massive win for Manisa which puts them firmly in the driving seat at the top of the league.

The question now is, not so much can Ankaragucu catch them, but can Ankaragucu qualify for the Play-Offs ?!!!

It was back to The Chopin and a chance to cheer on another Ankara team, but that’s  another story from Oz Kanka.

Next weekend is ‘the other’ Ankara Derby when Ankaragucu take-on Ankara Demirspor in an ‘away’ match.   Details here and by email when known.

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim