Monday, November 11, 2019

ANKARAGUCU OUT OF THEIR DEPTH AND SINKING !!




Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

Ankaragucu sank deeper into the relegation zone last night in Istan......spit.....bul and now prop-up the league in 2nd bottom position and only 2 points from the bottom.

For the most part, they were given a footie lesson last night by a slick and speedy Basaksehir team which made the Ankaragucu defence work overtime.   The scoreline tends to flatter Ankaragucu and Basaksehir should have put the match to bed long before Ankaragucu’s consolation goal.

Basaksehir            2               ANKARAGUCU          1

Team – Korcan, Kitsiou, Kulusic, Pazdan, Mehmet, Faty, Sedat, Aydin, Moke, Ilhan and Orgill

Substitutes – Yalcin, Canteros and Cebrail

I watched the match in The Alerta Bar with my friend Halil and a few other Ankaragucu supporters on a laptop which Halil had kindly fixed-up to find a stream.   The effin Beshiktrash match being on at the same time prevented us watching on the big screen to pander to the many Ankara BJK ‘supporters’   !!!

The first goal arrived after only 10 minutes and it was fashioned down the right where most of Basaksehir’s dangerous moves originated.   Mehmet in particular had a howler of a match and couldn’t cope with the speed of the Basaksehir right winger.   However, in this case it was Ilhan who didn’t mark the loose attacker from a throw-in on the right.   He therefore had all the time in the world to cross perfectly for Crivelli to stroke the ball in.

It was mostly one way traffic as Basaksehir looked to kill the match off and by some miracle they couldn’t find the killer touch thanks to some resolute defending by Ankaragucu.

Ankaragucu did have a few incursions into the Basaksehir half with Faty and Ilhan scorning chances.   Also, Orgill tried an audacious bicycle-kick shot which was well off target.

Only one down at half time was amazing, but I still felt an avalanche was imminent.

Basaksehir started the 2nd half in all-out attack mode and it took a great saving tackle from Yalcin 2 minutes in to steal the ball off an attacker’s foot as he was about to score.

2 minutes later and it was Korcan to the rescue as he saved a goal bound shot just inside the post.

3 minutes later and it was Mehmet who almost gifted Basaksehir a goal when he was caught dithering on the ball, but the danger was cleared before any damage occurred.

15 minutes to go and the 2nd goal unsurprisingly arrived but again it was fashioned down the right with an express breakaway with Mehmet and others left for dead.   The precision cross was delivered to the inrushing Crivelli who finished clinically.

The 3rd goal was prevented by Pazdan who intercepted a dangerous cross from the left and cleared the danger.

Then with 3 minutes remaining Ankaragucu scored against the run of play, Aydin sent in an excellent cross from the right to Ilhan at the far post and I thought at the time that Ilhan made contact with a glancing header.   However, it seems that contact wasn’t made and the ball drifted into the top left.   The goalkeeper should have saved it, but I think he was distracted by Ilhan’s presence  ?!

Anyway, the goal obviously inspired Ankaragucu to search for the equaliser .......... better late than never I suppose   !!!

Ilhan and Orgill had efforts past the post and over the bar before the final whistle and Ankaragucu returned to Ankara empty handed.

I have to say that Ankaragucu played some really nice footie IN THEIR OWN HALF, but for the most part, when they ventured into Basaksehir’s half their passing and penetration was woeful.

Thankfully there will be an International Break next weekend to give the Coach more time to prepare for the visit of Trabzon on 23 November.   Trabzon is in fine form at the moment and sit comfortably in 3rd top position in  the league.

However, as we have seen, the Ankaragucu players never throw in the towel, even when staring defeat in the face.   This will be a real test of their character and a match which I intend to attend at The Eryaman Stadium.

Bring it on  !

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

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