ANKARAGUCU’S BUBBLE HAS BURST !!

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

If I am to be honest, I would have settled for another backs against the wall 0-0 yesterday.   However, it was not to be, and as Nadeem and I have said a few times recently, it was inevitable that our defence would be breached eventually against a strong team.   So, Malatya did the biz and fully deserved all 3 points.

ANKARAGUCU      0         Yeni Malatyaspor       4

Team – Korcan, Kitsiou, Pazdan, Kulusic, Pinto, Moke, Sedat, Canteros, Aydin, Ilhan and Orgill

Substitutes – Mehmet, Faty and Cebrail

I was on my own watching the match in The Alerta Bar and unfortunately Battle Damaged Kanka Damon couldn’t make it due to the loss of his wife’s aunt who passed away recently.   We all send our condolences to him and his wife.

There was little action to speak of for the first 25 minutes apart from a good chance which Malatya scorned.   The classic cut-back from the left and the ball skied over.

All that changed in the 26^th minute when from a Malatya attack on the left, the ball was crossed into the danger area and Pazdan, Pinto and Korcan all went for the same ball in a panic and collided with each other.   The Malatya player with them was fortunate to feed off the mess and he nodded down to the unmarked Jahovic who had plenty time to pick his spot and send the ball into the unguarded goal.

A few minutes later and Kulusic was given the first of a few yellow cards for Ankaragucu, but the free kick from the resultant foul was saved by Korcan.

3 minutes later and the 2^nd goal arrived after some intricate football from Malatya as they performed a neat one-two in the box for ‘old boy’ Bifouma to stroke the ball in with the Ankaragucu defence helpless.

It took until the 37^th minute for Ankaragucu to threaten but it was a weak effort by Ilhan and easily saved.

The 3^rd goal arrived 3 minutes before the break and it was probably the goal of the match and one modelled on Messi at his best.   Guilherme picked up the ball on the right just outside the box and with 2 defenders about to challenge him, he shifted the ball to his left foot and sent a screamer into the top left with Korcan well beaten.

Just time for Kitsiou to receive a yellow for a cynical tackle before the whistle.

A professional display from Malatya and Ankaragucu could have no complaints.   Malatya was in complete control of the match after their first goal and Ankaragucu was restricted to defending, passing the ball around in midfield and commiting countless fouls.

Situation normal after the resumption with Ankaragucu finding it difficult to move out of their own half.   There was no penetration and they were continually being dispossessed and presenting Malatya with the initiative to attack.

Malatya’s left winger was causing all sorts of problems and he almost set-up the 4^th in the 68^th minute when he flew down the left wing leaving the Ankaragucu defence in his wake.   He slipped the ball to a team mate in the box but his shot hit the post and was cleared.

15 minutes from the end and Kitsiou showed his frustration with a high and dangerous tackle which the referee decided was another yellow and therefore ............ RED.

5 minutes later and it was No4.   A shot on the right just outside the box and Korcan spread himself to save, but could only palm the ball out to the incoming and unmarked Donald who had the easiest of tasks to tap-in.

Malatya could have scored a further two in the dying minutes, but an attacker missed a simple header and Korcan made a great save one-on-one with an attacker.

The burning question now is ................... when will Ankaragucu score a goal ?    With an away match against Fener....spit....bahce next Saturday, it could be a long wait, so let’s not hold our breath !!

Does it feel as though I am being blaze about our current predicament ?    Yes, I admit it, but with management still unable to solve the transfer ban, there is little hope on the horizon.    So, Ankaragucu’s slide down the table will continue.    Currently 12^th and only 3 points off the relegation zone !

One last comment ............. Aaaaaaargh !!!!

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim