Manisa 1-1 Ankaragucu match report

 

Ankaragucu left it late on Sunday as Gboly Ariyibi scored a late equaliser to give them a share of the points and go 4 points clear at the top.

Team - Akin, Erdem, Sinan, Yusuf, Yasin, Ishak, Abdullah, Zahid, Murat, Owusu, Geraldo

It was a poor performance by Ankaragucu on Sunday and a lot of that comes down to Mustafa Dalci and his team selection. Playing Ishak and Abdullah in midfield is too defensive and takes away any creativity from the middle of the park. 

The one Ankaragucu midfielder who has a goal threat from midfield Ali Kaan again had to make do with a place on the bench. And another start for Geraldo where he failed to add a goal or assist. 

There wasnt much opportunities for either side in the game. Manisa took the lead in the first half after poor defending from Sinan allowed Baris through on goal and he finished well past Akin. 

It was looking like Manisa would take all 3 points, but a late cross into the box found Ariyibi who put the ball in the back of the net to make it 1-1. 

A decent result, but the performance again wasnt great. I really do worry that we will be facing another relegation battle in the Super Lig next season as the same transfer committee will be responsible for bringing in new players. 

GENCLERBIRLIGI REMAIN IN A PRECARIOUS LEAGUE POSITION !!

 

 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

Despite a well constructed equalising goal near the end last night, Gencler find themselves precariously close to the relegation zone.

 

Gencler played well in phases, but they were also up against a strong Kocaeli team who are also involved in moving clear of the relegation zone.

 

GENCLERBIRLIGI           1                      Kocaeli              1

 

Team – Ramazan, Omurcan, Metehan, Gokhan, Muhammed, Hrechyshkin, Tshibola, Baris, Serdarcan, Lualua and Lima

 

Substitutes – Eleke, Berisberk and Ilker

 

I am unable to report in detail due to some ‘social activities’, but I did see both goals scored in the 2^nd half after a fairly uneventful 1^st half.

 

10 minutes into the 2^nd half and the normally reliable Metehan made a weak and poor back pass to Ramazan which was pounced on by Gueye who took the ball around Ramazan and stroked it into an empty net.

 

15 minutes later Gencler found the equaliser after some excellent play by the full back Omurcan who was in support of the attack.    The ball was played from the right wing to Omurcan to the right of centre in the box and he sent his shot across the goalkeeper and inside the left post.

 

Gencler almost found the winner near the end when Lima had his goal bound header well saved by the Kocaeli goalkeeper.

 

So, Gencler is still only 3 points above the relegation zone and they face another obstacle next Saturday when they travel to face Istanbulspor who are positioning themselves to challenge Umraniye and Ankaragucu for automatic promotion.    Therefore, Gencler will need to be at their very best to bring at least one point back to Ankara.

 

As always, watch this space for the outcome.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

ANKARAGUCU AND GENCLERBIRLIGI SITUATION REPORT – 16 MARCH 2022

 

 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

With only 9 matches left for Ankaragucu until the end of the season, and 10 for Gencler, the Ankara teams have had a season of mixed fortunes.

 

Ankaragucu is homing in on a return to the Super League either as champions or runners-up.   Gencler, on the other hand, has been flirting with relegation for most of the season and is still only 3 points above the relegation zone.

 

Ankaragucu has a tricky away fixture on Sunday against mid-table Manisa and will be hoping to bring all 3 points back to Ankara, in view of the likelihood of Umraniye beating Altinordu on Saturday.    At the moment Ankaragucu is 2 goals better off than Umraniye in the goal difference column in the league table.

 

Gencler has a home fixture on Sunday against fellow strugglers Kocaeli in what will be a ‘Six Pointer’.

 

Ps ……. Sad to see Ankaragucu’s ‘brother team’ Bursa languishing in 2^nd bottom place, but hopefully they will stage a revival and pull clear before the end of the season in May.

 

Here is the up-to-date league table –

 

TEAM                                                PLAYED                               POINTS

 

Ankaragucu                                       27                                           58

Umraniye                                           27                                           55

Bandirma                                           27                                           46

Istanbulspor                                       26                                           46

Eyup                                                  27                                           45

Erzurum                                             27                                           44

Samsun                                              26                                           39

Adanaspor                                         27                                           37

Manisa                                               27                                           36

Bolu                                                   26                                           35

Keciorengucu                                     26                                           34

Tuzlu                                                  26                                           34

Gencler                                              26                                           33

Kocaeli                                               26                                           32

Menemen                                           27                                           32

Denizli                                               27                                           30

Altinordu                                           27                                           28

Bursa                                                  26                                           25

Balikesir                                             26                                           11

 

As always, watch this space for the details of this weekend’s matches.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

 

ANKARAGUCU – CHAMP….

 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

This headline is Harun’s suggestion, which he predicted 5 weeks ago and it looks like it is a real possibility after a hard fought win last night.

 

However,it has to be said that Ankaragucu made heavy work of it to make the breakthrough, especially after some slack football in the 1^st half, and they were fortunate to go in at half time all square.

 

Bandirma chased and harried Ankaragucu to give them little time on the ball and the Ankaragucu defence had to stand up and be counted, especially in the 1^st half.

 

The kankas met up in the Bira Park Bar to watch the match …….Damon, Harun, Tansu, Osman and yours truly.

 

ANKARAGUCU         1                 Bandirma             0

 

Team – Akin, Erdem, Yusuf, Sinan, Murat, Abdullah, Ishak, Zahid, Geraldo,Ariyibi and Owusu.

 

Substitutes – Sahiverdi, Alperen, Ali Kaan, Cem and Aatif

 

Ankaragucu had Akin to thank for denying Bandirma an early goal in the 7^th minute.    He was at full stretch to turn a goal bound shot around  the post for a corner.

 

Ankaragucu had to wait until the 20th minute for their first shot on goal when Murat tried his luck from about 35 yards, but his shot was saved.

 

Bandirma almost opened the scoring after some great build up play 4 minutes later, but the final shot was just past the post.

 

Approaching half time and Sinan and Geraldo both had chances, but Sinan’s shot was easily saved and then his header went just over the bar.     Geraldo had a shot inside the box but sent it well over the bar   !

 

Ankaragucu started the 2nd half in more determined fashion and it only took 15 minutes for  the break through to arrive.    The goal was crafted by Geraldo for his first assist for the Club and it was a classic goal.     He attacked on the right, avoided a tackle, looked up and sent in a perfect cut-back to the unmarked Zahid in the box who stroked the ball in with the goalkeeper well beaten.

 

It has to be said that this was Geraldo’s best match for Ankaragucu.     There is no denying his commitment and effort for  the team and it is to be hoped that this will have a positive effect on his confidence for the future.

 

Ariyibi almost made it two 15 minutes later, but after he powered his way into the box, his final shot was just over the bar.

 

Ankaragucu shut up shop for the final 10 minutes and ran the clock down easily.

 

So, the bottom line is ………….. Ankaragucu is 6 points clear at the top of the league, at least until Umraniye play Eyup later today.    They are also 12 points clear of Erzurum in 3rd place  !!

 

Ankaragucu will be in action again next Sunday when they travel to mid-table Manisa.     As always, watch this space for the outcome.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim