Ankaragucu were brought back to earth with a bang this afternoon after a disappointing 2-1 defeat at lowly Adana Demirspor. The result leaves Ankaragucu top of the league 3 points ahead of Rizespor, although Umraniyespor can go 2 behind with a win at Samsunspor tomorrow.
Team - Korcan, Erdem, Gencer, Alihan, Ferhat, Arif, Sedat, Putsila, Kenan, Ilhan, Umut Nayir
Subs - Altay, Cheikhou, Kehinde, Enes, Yusuf, Mahmut, Mehmet, Mert, Szukala
So no surprises in the starting line up as İsmail Kartal goes with the same team that has been very consistent and no real injury worries.
Ankaragucu got off to th perfect start taking the lead after only 6 minutes. Erdem played in a brilliant ball to the box from a free kick and Alihan rose above everyone to bullet a header into the top corner to make it 1-0. The 800 or so Ankaragucu fans who made the trip were delighted and surely the team would push on for a comfortable win?
Nope, instead it was Adana Demirspor with a spirited performance and cheered on by the home crowd who took control of the game. Robert Tambe the dangerman had their first real effort from outside the box but the ball went inches wide of the post.
The equaliser came on the 72nd minute after a stunning ball into th box from Isciler and Lalawele rose above Ferhat to volley past Korcan making it 1-1. I’ve said for weeks our weakness is the left back position and Ferhat again showed he isn’t good enough defensively to play there.
There was still plenty of time for a winning goal but unfortunately this time not for Ankaragucu. The only team who looked like they would go on and win the game was the home side. And it came in the final minute of the game.
A penalty was awarded when Tambe was pushed in the box, Adana had put the ball in the net but the referee pointed to the spot. Up stepped Batuhan calmly slot the ball into the back of the net and send Korcan the wrong way.
So a disappointing day for Ankaragucu but let’s look at the positives, if we were told we would be sitting top of the table going into the January break we would all have jumped from the rooftops in delight.
The club no has the opportunity to strengthen the squad in January and the additions of Tisdell, Mbamba and Nuduka will do that, plus whoever else comes in.
We would like to wish everyone a merry Christmas when it comes and to enjoy the festive break from all the Kankas.
Spot on with your report Nadeem.
ReplyDeleteAnkaragucu were a shadow of the team they have been over the past few weeks, but all credit to Adana Demirspor for their deserved win.
An amateur desplay from Ankaragucu as we went into time added on when most 'away' teams would 'shut-up-shop' and run the clock down with the score at 1-1. However, Ankaragucu were caught on the break and were punished for allowing it !
It is to be hoped that we will not rue those 2 points thrown away come the end of the season !!!
Ismail Bey now has 3 weeks to plan his strategy for the 2nd half of the season which will be much tougher now that the other teams have sussed out Ankaragucu's strengths and weaknesses !!
Hostilities resume on 14 January when Ankaragucu begin the 2nd half of the season with a difficult away match in Erzurum KO 1pm.
ReplyDeleteWe will probably return to The Alerta Pub to watch it after the warm welcome we received there last weekend.
Watch this space for confirmation nearer the time.