COVID-HIT ANKARAGUCU EXCEED EXPECTATIONS !!

 

 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

It is never plain sailing for Ankaragucu   !!

 

Ankaragucu was unable to play 4 influential players last night, and against all the odds, won all 3 points to stay in touch with the top 3 in the league.

 

Last week Owusu lost his father and the Kanka Group send our condolences to him and his family.

 

Also, Ariyibi, Pinto and Eren contracted the hated Covid and we wish them a speedy recovery.

 

So, with all 3 of Ankaragucu’s front men out, it was always going to be a big ask for the team to find goals, but they did in the end thanks to a fortuitous substitution.

 

 ANKARAGUCU            1                     Tuzla            0

 

Team – Akin, Yasin, Yusuf, Sinan, Erdem, Ali Kaan, Ishak, Aatif, Zahid, Murat and Cem

 

Substitutes – Abdullah, Sahverdi, Geraldo and Babacan

 

The 1^st half was a ‘yawn’ of scrappy play with Aatif and Ali Kaan trying to drive Ankaragucu forward, but lacking bodies in the danger area to convert the chances.

 

However, there was one piece of excellent play in the 5the minute which almost produced the goal when Zahid received the ball just outside the box on the left and shot inside the right post, but the goalkeeper was able to scramble the ball away for a corner.

 

Tuzla only threatened once in the match but Akin was equal to the weak effort and saved easily.

 

Ankaragucu took more control of the match in the 2^nd half and again their lack of firepower up front was their undoing.

 

Aatif sent a good chance well over the bar, then Yasin sent a bullet of a header over the bar from a corner.   Another header by Aatif was headed over.

 

With 15 minutes to go it was all one way traffic and then Ahmet saw RED when he kicked Sahverdi in the face when allegedly going for the ball !!!

 

Ankaragucu continued their onslaught on the Tuzla goal and in the 3^rd minute of time added on came the goal from an inspired late substitution.

 

A corner on the right was sent over into the box and the ball fell conveniently for Alperen Babacan to fire the ball in the send players and fans wild with delight  !

 

It was no more than Ankaragucu deserved after their bombardment of the Tuzla goal, especially in the 2^nd half.

 

Ankaragucu remain 2^nd top still 3 points behind Umraniye.

 

Ankaragucu will be in action again next Saturday 15^th January away to Kocaeli with Umraniye travelling to play Istanbulspor on the same day.

 

Well played last night Ankaragucu   !!!

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim