Greetings Kankas
and Kankies.
Last night
Ankaragucu was a pale shadow of the team who have led the league for most of
the season. They bottled-out, and in
the process, handed the onus back to Umraniye and Bandirma to try and secure
the top 2 spots in the league in the run-in.
It was a
pathetic error strewn performance by Ankaragucu who scorned numerous chances to
at least secure one point. However, it
must be said that on the balance of play, Altinordu took their chances well,
and in the end, fully deserved all 3 points.
There is a way
back for Ankaragucu, but it must happen on Sunday when they play bottom team
Balikesir and they must play an all-out attacking formation. With Owusu and Zahid suspended for this
match, it will be a test for Mustafa Bey and the team to put the show back on
the road.
Ankaragucu has
been in the play-offs position before in the past, and it is no exaggeration to
say that this route to the Super League is a ‘lottery’, and to be avoided at
all costs !!
ANKARAGUCU 2 Altinordu 3
Team – Akin,
Yasin, Yusuf, Sinan, Murat, Sahverdi, Abdullah, Zahid, Aatif, Geraldo and Cem
Substitutes –
Eren, Ali Kaan, Ariyibi, Babacan and Pinto
It only took
Altinordu 8 minutes to open the scoring with their first attack of the
match. Seref received the ball on the
left and cut into the box sharply taking out two Ankaragucu defenders in the
process. He then fired a shot inside
the left post with Akin unable to stop it, despite being well placed to do
so. (Damon mentioned that Akin may
have slipped on the rough goal area surface when the shot was made ?!).
Geraldo had another
good match and was unlucky 5 minutes later when, after some tricky footwork on
the right, his cross received no takers.
Then 4 minutes
before the break came the ‘howler’ which gifted Altinordu their 2nd
goal. A fast break on the right by
Altinordu looked harmless when only Yener was following up front together with
5 Ankaragucu defenders. The cross came
over into the box and straight to Yusuf who passed direct to Yener instead of
leaving the ball to the defender behind him, or passing to Akin. Yener said ........... thank you very much
......... and slotted in easily for a calamity of a goal.
2 minutes later
we were smiling again when a clearance from defence was played out to Geraldo
just outside the box. He took aim and
sent his shot through a ruck of players and inside the right post for his first
goal for Ankaragucu, and here’s hoping it won’t be his last !!
Everything to
play for in the 2nd half, or so we thought !!!
10 minutes into
the 2nd half and another instance of indiscipline by Ankaragucu when
Zahid was given a straight RED card for saying something ‘naughty’ to the
referee during a questionable penalty appeal by the Ankaragucu players.
2 minutes later
and Altinordu extended their lead when they carved open the Ankaragucu defence
in a fluid move which culminated in Seref firing in to the top left to give
Akin no chance.
5 minutes later
and it was Altinordu’s turn to receive a RED card after Kubilay received a 2nd
yellow for a bad foul just outside the box.
This was the ‘rallying
call’ for Ankaragucu to press forward and Ariyibi had a great chance 3 minutes
later, but blasted the ball over when it was easier to score !
With 20 minutes
to go, Ankaragucu’s attacks finally paid off when they were awarded a penalty
when Geraldo was brought down in the box as he was about to make a pass. Eren stepped up and sent a weak shot
straight at the goalkeeper to spurn a glorious chance to stage an unlikely
come-back.
However, the 2nd
goal did come in the 90th minute when Ariyibi scored in a crowded
box, ........ but .......... too little ........... too late !!
So, as I said
earlier, it puts Sunday’s match into the category of ........... Really,
Really, Must Win !!! Balikesir’s position in the league is
irrelevant because they will ‘smell blood’ and try to cause an upset !
This match will
therefore test the mettle of Ankaragucu.
Bring it on !!!
All the best
from Eski Kanka Jim
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