ANKARAGUCU ...... ALMOST ..... SHOOT THEMSELVES IN THE FOOT !!

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

Ankaragucu almost lost this important match yesterday after giving away two sloppy goals from defensive mistakes, but thankfully Kehinde came to our rescue in the 2^nd half with the winning goal to secure all three points.

ANKARAGUCU    3        Giresun     2

Team -  Korcan, Erdem, Yusuf, Gencer, Ferhat, Kenan, Sedat, Arif, Putsila, Umut and Kehende.

Substitutes used – Tonia, Mbamba and Ilhan

If you have read my report of last week’s match in Denizli you will have seen that I mentioned a stadium ban punishment was a possibility, and so it proved.    Fortunately, it is only a one match ban, so we can return to the stadium in 2 weeks time.

As for yesterday, Battle Damaged Kanka Damon, Apple Kanka Erman and I watched the match in The Alerta Pub along with a few other Ankaragucu fanatics !

It was a beautiful sunny Spring day and optimism was high on the menu, and that was not misplaced when Ankaragucu came out of the starting blocks like a whippet and took the lead in the 3^rd minute.    A bad pass was intercepted by Putsila and off he went towards the penalty box avoiding tackles as he weaved his way forward.   Then his shot was well placed high into the top right of the goal with the goalkeeper only managing to get a touch and help the ball into the net.     What a start !

However, the euphoria didn’t last long – 4 minutes to be exact !     Perhaps the players assumed the match was won, but Giresun obviously didn’t.   The defence was in slumber mode as Giresun broke in numbers and an unmarked attacker had all the time in the world to score with Korcan exposed.    There was a call for offside, but from the replay (I think it was Sedat) the defender played the attacker onside.

Ankaragucu continued to attack and 5 minutes later Kenan was unceremoniously brought down just outside the box in the centre.   Erdem struck a perfect free kick which hit the bar with the goalkeeper beaten and the ball was cleared.

2 minutes later came another defensive aberration when Giresun broke away on the left and when the cross came in there was another attacker unmarked and he calmly side footed the ball into the corner with Korcan rooted to the spot on his line.

Still Ankaragucu kept pressing forward and Kehinde should have equalised 10 minutes later when he headed over from a cross on the right.

The referee then came to Ankaragucu’s rescue 5 minutes before the break when he judged Kehinde to have been brought down inside the box.    Some referee’s might have waved play on !!!     Anyway, Umut claimed the ball and calmly shot into the left corner to send us into the half time break at 2-2.

Half time photo - with 'half smiles' !!!     The singing and dancing comes later !!!

Cue ..... pep talk from Ismail Bey to the defence and midfield to tighten things up and anticipate Giresun’s breakaways which were causing all sorts of problems in the first half !

It obviously worked.    Giresun were less of a threat in the 2^nd half as Ankaragucu took the match to them and searched for the winning goal.  

2 minutes from the re-start and Kenan hit the post.    One minute later Kehinde was put through but shot straight at the goalkeeper.   2 minutes later Erdem had another free kick outside the box which went agonisingly close.    Umut had a good chance half way through the half but he dithered and a defender blocked his shot.   It was all Ankaragucu and we were saying ......... surely a goal must come !!!

It did, in the 74^th minute.    A corner on the right was swung into the far post and there was Kehinde unmarked to bullet a header in for the winner and play the ‘get out of jail card’.    Chaos in the Alerta with us all up singing and cheering ............ in relief !!!!

It was then a case of Ankaragucu hanging on with both teams obviously knackered after a fast a furious paced match.     Giresun did have a chance to equalise in the 94^th minute but thankfully the shot was just past the post.    In the last minute of the match Hakan of Giresun was given a 2^nd yellow but it made little difference with the final whistle moments later.

Ankaragucu back up into 2^nd place one point behind Rize and 2 points ahead of Umraniye.   They both play today and let’s see if the pressure gets to them ??!!

Next Saturday come the BIG SIX POINTER when Ankaragucu travel to Umraniye KO 3pm.    This will obviously be the defining moment of the season.    A mouth watering match which will no doubt have the players all fired up.

Still all to play for with the Super League still in our sights !!!

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim