Monday, April 29, 2024

ANKARAGUCU DEMONSTRATE THE MEANING OF ................NEVER-SAY-DIE !!!

 



 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

We could have been forgiven for throwing our hands up in despair at the end of the 1st half after a poor showing by Ankaragucu last night going in 2-0 down.

 

However, as we have witnessed in recent weeks, this Ankaragucu team is not for throwing the towel in, and they came storming back in the 2nd half to claim a well deserved and crucial point in their efforts to stay above the relegation zone.

 

Granted that there was an element of good fortune which brought Ankaragucu’s first goal, but the introduction of Tasos for the ineffective Renaldo was also a turning point in the attack.   I should also point to the introduction Pedrinho and Rodrigues as contributing to Ankaragucu’s much improved performance in the 2nd half.

 

This result has made a significant step forward and gives the team confidence and impetus in their last 4 league matches to move even further away from the relegation dog-fight   !!

 

Rizespor              2                            ANKARAGUCU               2

 

Team – Bahadir, Atakan, Mert, Radakovic, Kitsiou, Tolga, Bassogog, Efkan, Alexis, Renaldo and Ali Sowe

 

Substitutes – Tasos, Bajic, Pedrinho and Rodrigues

 

The alarm bells were ringing as early as the 5th minute when Bahadir was called into action to save a goal bound shot as Rize looked for the early goal.

 

Unsurprisingly it came in the 25th minute when the unmarked Gaich was allowed a free glancing header inside the 6 yard box from a cross.

 

Rize was rampant at this stage and went further ahead 7 minutes later.    A free kick on the right was sent into the box and Olawoyin was first to it to slide the ball inside the right post when he nipped in ahead of Atakan.

 

A few choice words were obviously used by Coach Emre at the break when Ankaragucu resumed the match with more purpose and it took only 10 minutes for the breakthrough to arrive.

 

It was a fortuitous goal when the Rize goalkeeper fumbled his save from a glancing header by Bajic.    This was the wake-up call and it was heeded by Ankaragucu as they continued to attack in search of the equaliser.

 

It almost arrived 3 minutes later when Tasos was unlucky to see his long range shot hit the bar.

 

It was constant pressure from Ankaragucu from this point and with 10 minutes to go the Rize goalkeeper made a crucial save to deny the equaliser.

 

However, it did come well into time-added-on when Ankaragucu was awarded a corner on the left.     It was sent into the box and Bahadir (who had joined the attack) was first to the ball and sent his glancing header to Rodrigues who reacted quickest to flick the ball in for an amazing equaliser.

 

A just reward for a truly magnificent 2nd half fight-back   !!

 

After winning a point from the jaws of defeat, the scene is now set for Ankaragucu’s next home match on Friday against mid-table Alanyaspor.

 

Also, a Cup Final place is still within reach, but 100% focus must be in preparation for their league matches and gaining 3 valuable points from them.

 

Coach Emre must ensure that last night’s 2nd half performance is repeated for 90 plus minutes in the remaining matches this season   !!

 

As always, watch this space for the outcome.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

2 comments:

  1. Fuck Rize ! Well done Ankaragücü

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous12:48 pm

    Ankaragücü was super second half

    ReplyDelete