Ankaragücü dropped further into the danger zone this weekend after a disappointing 2-1 defeat at joint top Başakşehir. The team were dealt a blow earlier in the day when Altay was ruled out due to a shoulder injury and would be replaced with Korcan.
Team - Korcan, Kitsiou, Pazdan, Kulusic, Pinto, Sedat, Moulin, Canteros, Sakho, Boyd, Orgill
Subs - Altay, Furkan, Mehmet, Alihan, Ilhan, Oscar, Ender, Aydin, Zaur, Kaan
Başakşehir started the game strongly and almost took the lead after 6 minutes but for a brilliant save from Korcan.
It was all Başakşehir, but Ankaragücü took the lead against the run of play with a fantastic counter attack. Sakho broke free down the left hand side, before playing the ball infield for Orgill, the Jamaican picked out Boyd in the box who cut inside before firing past Mert to make it 1-0 Ankaragücü much to the delight of the travelling fans.
Most of the game was being played in the middle of the pitch without either side creating anything of note. Napoleoni went closest for the home side as he cut infield before firing over the bar. Ankaragücü were defending very well and breaking up all the Başakşehir attacks.
Into the second half and a disastrous start for Ankaragücü as Bajic made it 1-1. It did look offside but the referee checked with VAR and awarded the goal.
Fifteen minutes later Başakşehir went in front after Korcan could only spill Visca’s shot but Robinho was on hand to make it 2-1 for the home side.
There were a couple of half chances for both sides before the full time whistle but in the end Başakşehir held on for the 3 points and it now leaves Ankaragücü 4 points ahead of the relegation zone with 2 games remaining.
Up next is a home match with Sivasspor next Monday night in what will the biggest game of the season for the club. A win or possibly a draw can secure the teams place in the Super Lig next season.
Yes Nadeem, a disappointing result after such a great opening period of the match when Ankaragucu took the sting out of the Basak attacks. I would have been satisfied to go in at 0-0 at half time, but Boyd had other ideas with a well taken goal half way through the 1st half.
ReplyDeleteAllowing Basak to equalise direct from the restart was schoolboy stuff and there can be no excuses made for that. However, the winning goal was a catastrophe for the Ankaragucu defence. All credit to Robinho for his predatory strike, but where was the defence when he received the ball from a right wing cross to the left ??? Ankaragucu was guilty of ball-watching with a defender (not sure who it was) standing on the half-circle of the penalty box ‘admiring the play’ with Robinho all on his own on the left. He had time to control the ball and angle-in an exquisite strike to win the match !
I hope Mustafa Bey shows these TWO defensive howlers on play-back to the players and also hope the defence has learned a salutary lesson for the next 2 crucial matches to come !
A draw would have been a satisfactory result, so now the pressure is back on for the last two matches.
Up first is the ‘really must win home match’ next Monday night against Sivas who are also in danger of relegation. There are many variables at the bottom and after next Monday’s matches the situation will be more clear.
A draw against Sivas is still not enough, so it must be all out attack from Ankaragucu next Monday. Nothing less than a win will suffice. The last thing Ankaragucu need is to go to Izmir for the last match against effin Goztepe requiring a win to avoid relegation !!!
Do it Ankaragucu !