ANKARAGUCU DIG DEEP IN THE FIRST ANKARA DERBY FOR SEVEN YEARS !

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

The Ankara Derby was a long time returning after relegations to the Championship and 2^nd League for Ankaragucu and Championship League for Genclerbirligi.   Let’s hope both teams can improve on their poor start to this season and retain this important fixture for next season.

ANKARAGUCU       2              GENCLERBIRLIGI         1

Ankaragucu Team – Korcan, Kitsiou, Pazdan, Kulusic, Pinto, Sedat, Faty, Moke, Hasan, Ilhan and Orgill

Ankaragucu Substitutes – Mehmet, Yalcin and Aydin

Genclerbirligi Team – Ertac, Ahmet Ramos, Toure, Polomot, Candeas, Berat, Fabricio Sessegnon, Ayite and Sio

Genclerbirligi Substitutes – Rahmetullah, Nadir and Stancu

The kankas watched the match in The Alerta Bar – Battle Damaged Kanka Damon, Flying Dutchman Kanka Carlo, with guest kankas, Haluk and Atagun.

Gencler dominated the opening exchanges and were a constant threat and quicker on the ball with Ankaragucu looking a bit sluggish.

The match was only 5 minutes old when Gencler was almost gifted a goal from an uncharacteristic and misdirected backpass by Pazdan which took Korcan by surprise, but he was quick to react and divert the ball away with his foot.

However, Gencler should have scored 2 minutes later when there was panic in the Ankaragucu defence but the Gencler striker with the goal at his mercy somehow contrived to hook the ball over the bar.

From that near miss, Ankaragucu broke away on the right and with Orgill bearing in on goal, he blasted the ball just over in what would have been a classic goal.

Gencler was still looking the likelier team but Korcan denied them on 15 minutes with a great save.

Ankaragucu did have a chance on the 24^th minute when they had a free kick just outside the box, but in the absence of Canderos through injury, Ilhan took it and sent it into ‘the wall’.

Gencler continued to threaten and Korcan pulled off another great save on the half hour mark when he tipped a goal bound shot over the bar.   2 minutes later it was Pazdan to the rescue when he headed clear off the goal-line with Korcan beaten.

Almost half time and Gencler spurned another chance when their striker was put through in the box, but he took his eye off the ball momentarily and Korcan saved the day again.

There was just time before the whistle for Gencler to miss the chance of the half when they carved open the Ankaragucu defence with a sweeping move on the left, but the striker’s shot was weak as he dragged the ball and Korcan was quick to gather it.

So, the half time whistle came as a relief and Ankaragucu could consider themselves fortunate to go in all square !

Ankaragucu resumed with more purpose in the 2^nd half after an obvious scathing mouthful from Coach, Metin Diyadin, who incidentally was shown a Red Card near the end of the 1^st half for presumably saying something ‘naughty’ to the 4^th official !

5 minutes in and Ilhan had a good opportunity when he received an excellent pass in a good position in the box, but he scuffed his shot wide.  At this point there was lots of mutterings of discontent with Ilhan’s performance, but that was to change later !!!

5 minutes later came one of the most comical goals I’ve ever seen.   It was Gencler’s turn to have a ‘panic moment’ in the box with Ankaragucu having TWO attempts to score from close range but one saved by a defender and the other by Ertac.   The ball broke to Candeas standing on the line and his attempted clearance was hit high into the top of the net and in.   Smiles and laughter all round, and of course, the customary high 5s.   A goal is a goal, and Ankaragucu was buzzing.

3 minutes later it was almost 2 when Orgill was put through on the right, but with a defender in attendance he was unable to compose himself and his snap-shot was saved.

9 minutes later came the goal of the match but not without initial controversy.  Ankaragucu attacked down the right and Hasan made a superb reverse pass to a colleague who crossed the ball into the danger area where Ilhan was lurking.   Ertac parried the initial shot and Ilhan pounced on the rebound to score.   However, the linesman’s flag was up for offside after the ball was crossed from the right and the goal was disallowed.     BUT, before play resumed the referee received information in his earphone and he indicated a consultation with the VAR.    The goal was rightly awarded, as we could clearly see from the replay, and Ilhan continued with his goal celebration !!!

A game of two halves ?!   Lady Luck decided to smile on Ankaragucu at last !

15 minutes to go and still time for another comical goal, but Korcan wasn’t smiling.    A Gencler shot from just outside the box was covered by Korcan, but the ball took a wicked deflection off an Ankaragucu defender to wrong foot Korcan.   The ball was on its way in, but it hit Korcan’s diving body and onto the post and squeezed in with Korcan helpless on the ground against the post.

The goal was a game changer and Gencler pressed forward for the equaliser with Ankaragucu holding on and relying on breakaways to relieve the pressure.

Orgill and Mehmet had chances to make the game safe but missed good opportunities.

The Ankaragucu defence was resolute and held firm for the 5 minutes of time added on to record their 2^nd win of the season.

Consequently, Ankaragucu moved out of the relegation zone and up to 11^th position, but still remain only 3 points ahead of Beshiktrash who replaced them in the bottom 3.   Gencler remain rooted to the bottom and are still looking for their first win of the season.

My Man of the Match goes to Korcan, especially for his heroics in the 1^st half.   Flying Dutchman Kanka Carlo disagreed and gave the vote to ................. Eeeeeeeelhaaaaaannn, but don’t worry, it was said ‘tongue in cheek’ !!!

So to next week, and Ankaragucu travel to Sivas (riding high in 5^th place) on Sunday KO 2pm.   I’ll be watching it in The Alerta Bar.

Gencler has another mountain to climb at home to Galata....spit.....saray on Saturday which is never an easy one for any team.   Can they surprise us all and find that 1^st win of the season ?

As always, watch this space for the reports of both matches.

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim