Ankaragücü 4-1 Hatayspor

 

Ankaragücü produced one of their finest performances in years on Sunday with a 4-1 win against fellow relegation candidates Hatayspor.

Omer Erdogan made some changes against his former club and those changes paid off especially the additional of Pedrinho to the midfield.

Team - Gokhan, Malciut, Radakovic, Mujakic, Yasin, Tolga, Pedrinho, Taylan, Beridze, Jese, Ali Sowe

Subs - Bahadir, Sinan, Atakan, Oguz, Firatcan, Diack, Sahverdi, Pepe, Tasos, Ariyibi

Ankaragücü got off to the perfect start after 3 minutes when Pedrinho played a beautiful ball down the right to Taylan, who then played the ball into the path of Beridze and the Georgian put the ball past Erce to make it 1-0.

Malciut, Beridze and Taylan linked up well all afternoon and they combined to set up Taylan on the 15th minute but he hit the side netting.

Pedrinho and Beridze then combined to set up Ali Sowe but Erce made a good save. Tolga then put Jesé through on goal but he shot straight at Erce. From the resulting corner Pedrinho shot from distance but Erce saved comfortably.

Just before half time Beridze put in a great ball for Taylan but his header was brilliantly saved by Erce who was having a good game.

Half Time Ankaragücü 1-0 Hatayspor

Minutes into the second half Jese Rodriguez had the ball in the net but it was ruled out for offside. Jesé is starting to look fitter and is also working hard, hopefully we see more quality from him as the weeks go by.

Ankaragücü doubled their lead on 63 minutes, the ball was played into the box and Taylan found himself in space before putting the ball past Erce. It did look offside but VAR correctly showed the last touch before the ball came to Taylan came off a Hatay defender.

Six minutes later Ankaragücü went 3-0 up. A brilliant free kick into the box from Pedrinho was met by Ali  Sowe whose brilliant header went into the top corner.

Ali Sowe had another couple of chances, one was well saved by Erce, and the other he shot over.

Hatayspor did pull one back from the spot through Ayoub after a foul by Tolga in the penalty box. 

There was till time for one more Ankaragücü goal in injury time as Lamine Diack won the ball back in midfield. He played a 1-2 with Ali Sowe before calmly finishing into the top corner.

It was a brilliant performance in front of another big crowd at Eryaman. Some excellent performances with Pedrinho, Taylan, Ali Sowe and Beridze in particular all impressive.

Next up is an away trip to Kasimpasa on Friday. It’s a match Ankaragücü can take all 3 points from. Let’s hope they build on the weekends win.

GENCLERBIRLIGI REVIEW

 

 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

Apologies for being unable to report on Gencler for the past 2 weeks but I was out of the country in Scotland watching a ‘higher standard of footie’   !!!

 

It is very frustrating for Gencler fans these days having to suffer their team fighting to escape from the relegation zone, in similar circumstances to last season.

 

With Gencler likely to be sharing the NEW 19 Mayis Stadium with Ankaragucu in the future (when ???), it hardly needs me to say that it will be an inappropriate venue for 2^nd League teams to play their matches there.   In actual fact, even the present day Eryaman Stadium is too big for the few Gencler fans who turn-up   !!!

 

Therefore, it is to be hoped that Gencler can stay in the Championship this season which will still attract some well known teams from The Championship to Ankara.

 

On to my summary, and the 15^th of October when Gencler hosted fellow Ankara team Keciorengucu for the ‘mini’ Ankara Derby.

 

GENCLERBIRLIGI         0                Keciorengucu     2

 

Team – Adiyaman, Muhammed, Metehan, Gokhan, Seyit, Aksel, Hrechyshkin, Baris, Serdarcan, Zafer and Ilker

 

Muhammed of Keci scored just before half time and Inan made sure towards the end.

 

This win put Keci on top of the league with Gencler stuck in 3^rd bottom place.    However, the situation changed recently with Eyupspor now in top spot.

 

Gencler suffered another defeat away to Adanaspor on the 24^th of October.

 

Adanaspor         2                  GENCLERBIRLIGI              1

 

Team – Adiyaman, Seyit, Gokhan, Metehan, Zafer, Hrechyshkin, Byeyayev, Aksel, Baris, Serdarcan and Ilker

 

Adana opened the scoring with a penalty on the half hour mark and the equaliser came from Baris just before half time.    Kose sealed it for Adana 10 minutes before the final whistle.

 

Gencler remain stuck in 3^rd bottom position, but a gap is beginning to open up between the bottom 4 and the other strugglers.

 

However, in between those matchers there was a ray of sunshine when Gencler beat lower league Nigde 3-1 (AET) in the 3^rd Round of the Turkish Cup.     They will host another lower league team, Bayburt, in the 4^th Round on the 9^th of November.

 

Ankaragucu will be at home the day before in the 4^th Round against Amed of Diyabakir in what is sure to be a tense affair   !!!

 

It is back to league business for Gencler on Monday night when they host mid-table Manisa.    Another difficult nut for Gencler to crack in their bid to climb out of the bottom 4.

 

As always, watch this space for the outcome.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

Giresunspor 1-1 Ankaragucu

 

Just a short report from Monday nights match with myself and Jim both busy at the moment. The game finished 1-1 and Ankaragucu were lucky to take a share of the points back to Ankara.

But for an outstanding performance from Gokhan Akkan who made several top class saves, Giresun would have taken all 3 points. 

It was a disappointing performance from Ankaragucu who are now back in the relegation zone and these are the games they need to start winning. 

The goal came from Jese Rodriguez from the penalty spot, before Riad Bajic scored the equaliser with 5 minutes to go. 

The biggest disappointments were Yasin who again proved he isnt good at this level, and Mujakic in the first half. Giresun were getting so much joy down the left hand side. 

In attack Ankaragucu offered very little. Jese still looks way off fitness wise. 

Next up a must win match against Hatayspor in Ankara at the weekend. 

Ankaragucu 0-3 Fenerbahce

 

Usually after a 3-0 home defeat i would have a lot to say and criticism of the team. But last night we saw one of the most blatant cheating refereeing performances in Turkish football. Of course Ankaragucu could have done better in parts of the game especially Gokhan Akkan in goal who was awful, and in the final 3rd of the pitch. But the biggest problem was the referee.

Team - Gokhan, Malcuit, Uros, Mujakic, Yasin, Taylan, Tolga, Emre, Jese, Beridze, Ali Sowe

Subs - Bahadir, Firatcan, Oguz, Lamine, Federico, Pedrinho, Tasos, Sahverdi, Atakan, Marlon

Omer Erdogan went with an attacking team and handed a full debut to Kevin Malcuit, while Jese got his 2nd start for the club. 

The game was only a minute old when Fenerbahce were awarded a free kick. The ball was swung into the box and headed back across goal, Michy reacted first with a questionable high foot as he knocked the ball past Gokhan who should have done better. An awful start for Ankaragucu as Fener took the lead after only 1 minute. 

Then came another big talking point, Irfan blatantly elbowed Emre on the side of the face. The referee waved play on and Fener broke forward with the ball. Irfan had a go from long range and the ball was straight at Gokhan but he made another big mistake and the ball went into the back of the net to make it 2-0 Fener. Firstly Irfan should have been booked and it was a free kick to Ankaragucu, the fact they have VAR and didnt even check is a disgrace, and secondly Gokhan should have saved the shot. 

Ankaragucu had chances of their own. They had the ball in the net twice. First through Ali Sowe, but the referee waved it off for offside after consulting VAR. The replay looked like he was level. Jese also had the ball in the net after Ali Sowe set him up but this one was correctly ruled out. 

Altay then made a great save from a deflected shot and Ankaragucu were giving Fenerbahce a lot of problems in attack. 

Into the 2nd half and again the referee was at it with another terrible decision. Samuel handed the ball in the box and it should have been a penalty. Again no VAR check and no penalty. At this stage it was obvious what was happening. 

Fenerbahce got a 3rd in the last minute through Rossi, another that Gokhan should have done better, but it was game over and Ankaragucu are now in the relegation zone. 

They travel to Giresun next Monday night in what will be another must win match. 

GENCLERBIRLIGI – FIRING BLANKS AGAIN !!

 

 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

7 matches into the season and Gencler is making hard work of challenging for promotion.    With only one win, they are entrenched in the relegation zone along with other famous names, ie, Denizli, Malatya and Erzurum.

 

To be honest, I didn’t see any encouraging signs last night of a revival in Gencler’s fortunes, and I foresee a real struggle ahead if they are intent of moving into mid-table security.    In fact, the dismal statistic last night was that Gencler had zero shots on target in the entire match   !!

 

After watching Ankaragucu secure their 2^nd win of the season in the early kick-off yesterday, the Gencler match was a damp squib.

 

One item of interest spotted by Battle Damaged Kanka Damon was that previous Ankaragucu player Ali Kaan Guneren started for Samsunspor.       To be honest, I didn’t know that he had been transferred and am surprised and disappointed with that decision.   I still anticipate a bright future for him  !

 

Samsunspor            2                    GENCLERBIRLIGI             0

 

Team – Adiyaman, Seyit, Mert, Gokhan, Metehan, Hrechyshkin, Ahmet, Serdarcan, Aksel, Baris and Ilker

 

Substitutes – Altiparmak, Zafer, Byelyayev and Muhammed

 

The match sparked into life in the 16^th minute when a defensive blunder allowed Douglas to latch onto a loose ball.    He drove forward into the box and gave Adiyaman no chance with his bulleted shot to put the writing on the wall.

 

Last season, Gencler might have heeded the wake-up call, but there was little or no response yesterday.

 

On the half hour mark, Samsun scored again from a fast break, but it was correctly ruled offside.

 

The 2^nd half was only 5 minutes old when Samsun put the match to bed.    A corner on the left was sent over into the box straight to the feet of Ozturk who side-footed the ball inside the left post with the entire Gencler defence static   !!

 

Game over, and Gencler was fortunate not to concede further  !

 

Next up is the ‘mini Ankara Derby’ when Gencler take on the surprise team of the season so far, Keciorengucu, who are flying high in 2^nd top position in the league.

 

The match will be played next Saturday 15^th October.     However, I will be in Scotland for 2 weeks and therefore unable to report in detail.    I will attempt to play catch-up when I can, so keep watching this space.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

ANKARAGUCU – BACK ON THE WINNING TRACK !!

 

 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

The match yesterday was played at a fast and furious pace throughout and Ankaragucu had to work hard for all 3 points.

 

They scorned lots of chances, and Ali Sowe in particular needs extra training in a few departments, especially shooting accuracy   !!

 

Anyway, this victory will have done wonders for the players confidence with the upcoming visit of Fenerbahce.    The players need fear no team, and must take the bull by the horns and attack Fener   !     After all, Fener is not invincible, and I am surer Omer Bey will have the players fired-up for this match.

 

It also moved Ankaragucu out of the relegation zone and if the team can maintain this momentum, mid-table security is well within their grasp.

 

Istanbulspor               1                   ANKARAGUCU             2

 

Team – Gokhan, Yasin, Nihad, Uros, Oguz, Tolga, Giorgi, Pedrinho, Taylan, Emre and Ali Sowe

 

Substitutes – Jese, Zahed, Pedro, Anastasios and Bahadir (who replaced the injured Gokhan near the end of the match ).

 

Back to yesterday’s match and Ankaragucu was fast out the traps and took the lead in the 15^th minute when Taylan surged through the Istanbulspor defence and flicked a pass to Emre on the right who guided the ball inside the left post.

 

Ankaragucu was playing some nice football and spraying the ball around to find openings and they should have increased their lead near the half time whistle when Ali Sowe had a great opportunity in the centre of the box with only the goalkeeper to beat, but his weak shot was easily saved.

 

Ankaragucu went back into attack mode on the resumption and again Ali Sowe had an opportunity in the centre of the box when the ball was played to him, but he fumbled the ball and the goalkeeper was able to gather.

 

3 minutes later and Ali Sowe yet again passed up another chance   !      He was put through in his own half and ran all the way inside the Istanbulspor box and then, with only the goalkeeper to beat, he blasted the ball high and wide   !!

 

4 minutes later and Istanbul snatched the equaliser from a cock-up in the box when Gokhan and Oguz went to defend the same ball and collided with each other.     Ethemi was lurking in the same area and he nodded the ball into an empty net for an easy goal.

 

In the meantime, Giorgi had a couple of efforts on goal which sailed past the post.

 

15 minutes to go and Pedro almost gifted Istanbulspor a goal with sloppy defending and dithering with the ball.    The ball was gratefully accepted by an Istanbulspor attacker, but fortunately his shot went flying past the post.

 

1 minute into time added on and Ankaragucu managed to find the winning goal which their play had deserved.    Tolga was fouled near the half way line and a quick free kick was taken.     The ball was played out to the left and crossed into the box near the goal line and eluded the defenders but fell nicely to Ali Sowe on the goal line who bundled the ball in.   He couldn’t miss from this position  !!!

 

Almost on the final whistle and Bahadir made an outstanding save to deny an attacker’s shot inside the 6 yard box.

 

A great never-say-die performance from Ankaragucu.      However, and notwithstanding Ali’s goal, he is becoming the ‘new Geraldo’ with the number of scorned chances he misses, the number of times he is beaten in the air and his distribution questionable.    Omer Bey needs to look urgently for a predatory striker who can score goals on a regular basis   !!

 

As I said earlier, next up for Ankaragucu is a home match against Fenerbahce on Monday night 17^th October.

 

As always, watch this space for the outcome.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

ANKARAGUCU – UNDER-PERFORMING ........AGAIN !!!

 

 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

I’m beginning to sound like a stuck gramophone record saying the same thing week in and week out for Ankaragucu (and Genclerbirligi) matches recently   !!!

 

It is quite obvious that the team is not fully equipped for life in the Super League, especially up front, when as we all know, the round thingie must be put between the sticks, and not over the bar or past the uprights  !!    I don’t want to start naming names, but I’m sure most of you know the culprits  ??!!

 

Basaksehir is the only undefeated team in the Super League and sit on top of the league, so on paper, they were favourites to take all 3 points, BUT, it could have been so different if Ankaragucu had the players up front to take advantage of all the cross balls played into the box by the midfield, especially by my Man of the Match, Oguz.

 

Scoring the equaliser at the start of the 2^nd half should have been the signal for Ankaragucu to find the winner, but as I said, they don’t have a predatory striker and that is a glaring deficiency which Omer Bey must rectify ASAP.      Failure to do so and there is little likelihood of Ankaragucu escaping from the relegation zone   !

 

ANKARAGUCU            1                      Istanbul Basaksehir             2

 

Team – Gokhan, Oguz, Uros, Nihad, Yasin, Taylan, Tolga, Emre, Pedrinho, Giorgi and Ali Sowe

 

Substitutes -  Atakan, Jese, Frederico, Ariyibi and Zahid

 

Battle Damaged Kanka Damon and I went to The Eryaman Stadium and met 3 ‘honourary kankas’.      Yasar, his wife Karen and son Kursat.

 

We had barely settled down to enjoy the match when Basak took the lead in the 2^nd minute .......aaaaargh............ and what a disaster for the Ankaragucu defence with ‘schoolboy basic mistakes’.       It really was a comedy of errors outside the box in the centre to clear the ball but instead it was sent to Okaka who probably couldn’t believe his luck.     He surged forward unchallenged and sent the ball inside the left post to stun the team ........... and us long suffering supporters   !

 

Ankaragucu didn’t heed the wake up call.     They continued to be caught in possession and guilty of being split seconds behind in 50/50 balls   !

 

Ankaragucu fashioned their 1^st real attack of the match on the half hour mark when after good work by Oguz on the right, he sent over an inviting ball to the centre but Ali Sowe contrived to send the ball past the right post.

 

I should also mention Ankaragucu’s wasted opportunities at corners in the 1^st half.   2 short corners were both wasted as they lost possession with their dithering............. for short corners there should be a plan ........... shouldn’t there   ??!!     2 more corners were wasted when the ball was sent to the near post when most of the Ankaragucu attackers were at the back post   !!!

 

The 2^nd half was only 5 minutes old when Ankaragucu was thrown a lifeline   !        A break on the right and the cross was sent in to Emre in the centre.    However, before he could attack the ball he was flattened by a Basak defender.     The referee pointed immediately to the spot.     Up stepped Tolga to send his shot inside the left post and raise the volume of the supporters in all the tribunes.

 

The search for the winner didn’t materialise and it was Basak who looked the likelier to score and so that’s what happened with 10 minutes to go.       I have to be honest here and admit to checking details of The Mighty Hibernian’s great victory against Ross County, so I didn’t see the winning goal.     Neither did Damon and Yasar, but Karen did, and she said it was a long range shot from outside the box by Turuc which sailed past Gokhan for the winning goal.    Perhaps Nadeem can give more details in the comments section of this report   ??!!

 

So, that leaves Ankaragucu stuck in 4^th bottom position in the league, but it may not be a hopeless situation with mid-table security still in sight.    

 

Ankaragucu will be away next Saturday against fellow strugglers Istanbulspor and a win there would see Ankaragucu claw their way out of the relegation zone.     However, it’s a big ask based on last night’s performance, but who knows what will happen if Omer Bey can instil some fire up front and a 90 plus minutes performance   !!

 

As always, watch this space for the outcome   !

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim