Monday, November 29, 2021

ANKARAGUCU SPURN A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY !!!

 



 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

Ankaragucu spurned a golden opportunity in Bornova last night to cement their place at the top of the league.        However, they remain 2nd top ............ for now ....... but the chasing pack took closer order to the top 3.

 

With Umraniye and Eyupspor both losing over the weekend, this was a chance for Ankaragucu to make a statement of intent after last week’s dismal performance in Adana.    Therefore, Ankaragucu must now look over their shoulder and perhaps see Erzurum and Bandirma  overtaking them before Ankaragucu play their next match.

 

Bandirma is only 2 points behind the top 3 with a game in hand, and Erzurum is also only 2 points behind with 2 games in hand   !     Therefore, the significance of last night’s abomination is clear for all to see.     The pressure mounts   !!!

 

Altinordu               2                   ANKARAGUCU         1

 

Team – Akin, Erdem, Yusuf, Sinan, Pinto, Zahid, Ishak, Ali Kaan, Murat, Ariyibi and Eren

 

Substitutes – Geraldo, Aatif and Abdullah

 

Battle Damaged Kanka Damon and I settled down to watch the match in the Bira Park Bar full of confidence.      Hmmmmm, when will we learn to control our emotions   ??!!

 

There were two narrow escapes for Altinordu in the first 15 minutes.     Great play by Ariyibi on the left when he avoided several tackles and worked himself into the box.    His shot was destined for just inside the left post, but the goalkeeper blocked the shot with his knees !    Then following a corner on the left, Ankaragucu had the ball in the net, but Eren had impeded the goalkeeper and the foul was quite rightly given !

 

For the remainder of the 1st half, Ankaragucu seemed to take their foot off the pedal and allowed Altinordu into the match.    They had 3 opportunities with shots whizzing past the post, across the goalmouth with no takers, and Akin making a crucial save.

 

The 2nd half was only 2 minutes old when Ankaragucu decided to shoot themselves in the foot  !!   An Altinordu attacker received a pass just outside the box on the left and took the ball into the penalty area only to be foolishly impeded with a body check by an Ankaragucu defender when there appeared no apparent immediate danger.

 

The penalty was clinically despatched by Ahmet with a shot down the centre with Akin diving to his left.

 

Ankaragucu’s response was to attack and 4 minutes later they almost found the equaliser after nice play by Ariyibi on the right.    He took the ball to the goal line and cut the ball back for the inrushing Murat, but the ball was played slightly behind Murat and his shot was skied over the bar.

 

However, the equaliser came 5 minutes later and was definitely goal of the match.    A sublime pass from Zahid to Ali Kaan gave him the opportunity to shoot on the right of the goals to inside the left post for an excellent goal.

 

The 2nd goal almost arrived 4 minutes later but a volleyed effort just inside the box hit the post and was cleared by the Altinordu defence.

 

We were still confident that Ankaragucu would find the winner until Ahmet struck again in the 66th minute to put the match to bed.    A fast Altinordu break on the right caught the Ankaragucu defence out of position.    Ahmet latched onto the ball and managed to squeeze a shot in between Akin and a defender who collided with each other in a defensive mix-up.

 

Ankaragucu lost the plot from this point as Altinordu gradually took control of the match again and ran the clock down.    

 

If I have to point the finger, it will be at Mustafa Bey   !!!      I am mystified why he decided to take Ariyibi and Zahid off in the 2nd half who were always likely to score or create something.    The least said about Geraldo coming on ........... the better   !!!

 

I’m tempted to say ............... Ankaragucu will be favourites to win their next match against bottom team Balikesirspor at home next Monday night, BUT ................ I won’t   !!!      What I will say is ............... this is definitely a MUST WIN match to stay in touch with the leading pack.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

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