Saturday, March 02, 2024

ANKARAGUCU – MOST DEFINATELY ......’A BAD DAY AT THE OFFICE’ !!!

 



 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

After their Dr Jekyll performance last week against Fenerbahce, Ankaragucu returned to play the part of Mr Hyde today against the bottom club in the league.

 

Poor finishing by Ankaragucu, horror defending to concede a goal, some resolute defending by Istanbulspor in the 1st half, not to mention the RED card for Ertac, and Ankaragucu faced a mountain to claw themselves back into the match in the 2nd half.

 

Ankaragucu hardly put a glove on Istanbulspor in the 1st half and could easily have considered themselves fortunate to go in only 1-0 down.

 

That Ankaragucu was able to equalise in the 2nd half is to be congratulated, but it would have been a travesty if Istanbulspor had lost all 3 points after their ability to contain Ankaragucu, and also their own poor finishing in the 2nd half should be borne in mind.

 

ANKARAGUCU             1                     Istanbulspor           1

 

Team – Ertac, Kitsiou, Mert, Mujakic, Kazimcan, Tolga, Ali Kaan, Bassogog, Pedrinho, Tasos and Ali Sowe

 

Substitutes – Bahadir, Atakan, Alexis, Rodrigues and Macheda

 

The match was only 15 minutes old when poor defending almost cost Ankaragucu to concede the opener.    However, Ertac was well positioned to save a close range header,

 

5 minutes before half time and Ertac was called into action again when he was forced to run out of the penalty area to intercept the ball before an attacker.   Unfortunately he took him out bodily and the both crashed to the ground.     The referee immediately produced the RED card for Ertac, and both teams medical staff were called on to attend to them.     The result being that both players were stretchered off.       Pedrinho was sacrificed as Bahadir replaced Ertac.

 

Approaching the half time whistle at 45 plus 7 and another shambles in the Ankaragucu defence when they needlessly gave the ball away.    Florin latched onto the ball just outside the box and sent a screamer high inside the left post.

 

Sighs of relief all round when Ankaragucu grabbed the equaliser 7 minutes into the 2nd half.    An astute pass by Tolga in his own half of the field  to Bassogog on the left.     He took off, and just inside the box sent his shot inside the right post.

 

Would the gallant 10 men have an historic fight back to secure all 3 points   ?         Hmmmmm, NO, but .......almost   !!

 

Bassogog almost found the 2nd goal 5 minutes later when a defender sent his attempted clearance straight to him.     Unfortunately, he couldn’t control the ball and the goalkeeper was able to smother the ball.

 

10 minutes from the end and Atakan had a goal bound header well saved.

 

This result leaves Ankaragucu looking over their shoulder as the 7 clubs below them take closer order with the ultimate aim of sucking Ankaragucu into the danger zone.

 

Therefore, next Sunday’s match in Samsun falls into the crucial category if Ankaragucu is to avoid the relegation dog-fight towards the end of the season   !

 

As always, watch this space for the outcome.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

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