Ankaragucu clinch promotion back to Super Lig!

Manisaspor 0-3 Ankaragucu

Six years after relegation from the Turkish Super Lig, Ankaragücü claimed their rightful place back in the top flight with a comfortable 3-0 win at Manisaspor. A late come back for Eskisehirspor as they drew 2-2 against Boluspor, and a 1-0 win for Rizespor at Umraniyespor sent the large travelling Ankaragucu away sport wild in celebrations at full time.

Team - Korcan, Erdem, Gencer, Alihan, Ferhat, Arif, Mbamba, Kenan, Ilhan, Umut, Kehinde
Subs - Altay, Enes, Sedat, Mahmut, Abdulkadir, Mehmet, Nduka, Ahmet, Lukasz

Manisaspor can count themselves lucky that the Ankaragücü players seemed to have left their shooting boots at home today as they missed so many chances during the match. It was a Manisaspor who had the first chance of the game after good play down the right hand side, Omer got on the end of a cross but his header was deflected over.

Two minutes later Kenan almost got lucky from a cross but Zafer tipped the ball over for a corner. A minute later Kehinde had a shot from the edge of the box which was again saved by Zafer for another corner.

Ankaragucu continued to pile on the pressure and a well worked free kick found Ilhan but his shot was straight at Zafer. Next up was a chance for Umut who was put through by Mbamba but his shot from the edge of the box was comfortably saved.

The best chance of the half fell for Umut Nayir from a great cross into the box, but the big striker somehow headed wide of the post. Just before half time Kehinde saw his header brilliantly saved by Zafer. Ankaragucu were winning every ball in the air and another ball into the box was met by Umut who headed wide again.


Half Time 0-0

Into the second half and it only took 2 minute to open the scoring. A corner into the box for Kehinde who rose above his marker to head the ball into the bottom corner giving Zafer no chance, 1-0 Ankaragucu.

Five minutes later and Ankaragucu scored their 2nd after Ferhat was fouled in the box and the referee awarded a penalty. Up stepped Umut Nayir to blast the ball into the roof of the net to make it 2-0.

Umut wasn’t having the best of games and saw another header go wide after a good ball from Ferhat on the 70th minute. Some great play from Kehinde as he powered past two defenders before seeing his shot saved by Zafer. A minute later Kehinde went close again after a good ball from Ferhat.

Umut had another couple of chances but it just wasn’t his day. With the news gathering in the stadium  that Eskisehirspor had equalised against Boluspor, Enes went through on goal and made it 3-0 Ankaragücü. A great end to a great day as Ankaragücü can again look forward to rubbing shoulders with the elite in Turkey.

Well done Mehmet Yiginer and his management team, well done İsmail Kartal, well done the Ankaragücü team and staff, but most importantly well done the fans who have stuck with the team through the darkest of days!