GENCLERBIRLIGI – PLAY-OFF PLACE STILL ON HOLD !!

 

 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

It was mostly all one-way traffic yesterday towards the Gencler goal in the 1^st half with Goztepe unable to find the opening goal which their general all round play probably deserved.    Gencler on the other hand was unable to test the Goztepe goalkeeper   !

 

Goztepe             2                       GENCLERBIRLIGI            0

 

Team – Ertugrul, Yasin, Babacan, Yigit, Nzaba, Akabueze, Oguzhan, Ensar, James, Amilton and Melih

 

Substitutes – Musa, M. Yatabare, Bugra, Ozgur and Oltan

 

Goztepe laid siege to the Gencler goal in the 1^st half and had 4 opportunities to open the scoring.

 

Firstly, Ertugrul made a great save when he thwarted a one-on-one situation.     Shortly after that narrow escape, from a Goztepe corner on the left, the ball was headed to an unmarked forward at the back post, and with the goal at his mercy, he blasted the ball over the bar.

 

Then inside the 6 yard box a Goztepe forward side-footed the ball over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

 

Finally, and just before the half time whistle, a Goztepe forward blasted the ball over the bar when well placed in the box.

 

I was unable to watch the 2^nd half, but according to the statistics, it was more of the same with Goztepe pressure for the most part.

 

Goztepe finally made the breakthrough with 10 minutes to go when Uzum scored the opening goal.     The icing on the cake came in time-added-on through Lundqvist.

 

Gencler only managed one shot on target in the match and that came late in the 2^nd half.

 

This result means that Goztepe join Eyupspor in the Super League next season.

 

Gencler might still make the play-offs, but they must win their last two matches and hope that some of the teams in their vicinity in the league drop points.

 

Next up is a home match against already relegated Giresun on 5 May.      Giresun has had a torrid season having won only 2 matches, drawn 4 and lost an incredible 26    !!

 

As always, watch this space for the outcome.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

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 1^st 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 2^nd 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 2^nd 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 5^th 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 25^th 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 2^nd 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 2^nd 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

ANKARAGUCU – CUP DREAM STILL ALIVE !!

 

 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

Ankaragucu kept their hopes of reaching The Turkish Cup Final alive last night and travel to Istanbul on 7 May for the 2^nd Leg of the semi final with still all to play for.   With so much at stake, it would be unwise to write off Ankaragucu’s chances after their never-say-die performance last night   !

 

Unlucky with VAR, hitting the woodwork and poor finishing, Ankaragucu should have taken at least one goal to Istanbul.    The one crumb of comfort is that they start all square and now it is purely in their own hands.   Play like they did last night and the final is within reach, but of course, without spurning their opportunities in the final 3^rd   !!

 

ANKARAGUCU           0                     Besiktas              0

 

Team – Bahadir, Atakan, Radakovic, Mujakic, Kitsiou, Tolga, Alexis, Morutan, Efkan, Bassogog and Ali Sowe

 

Substitutes – Macheda, Pedrinho, Ali Kaan, Kazimcan and Tasos

 

Ankaragucu started brightly and opened the scoring after 15 minutes, or so we all thought, when excellent play by Bassogog on the left and his well aimed pass to Ali Sowe at the far post allowed him to stroke the ball in.    However, the referee was called to the dreaded VAR and he indicated that there had been an offside in the build-up.     From the replay, it was a ‘hairline decision’ and, to be honest, I wasn’t totally convinced   !!

 

To their credit, Ankaragucu continued to press forward and another chance was lost 10 minutes later when a Besiktas defensive blunder was seized upon by Ali Sowe who drove into the box, and with one-on-one with the goalkeeper, blasted the ball over the bar when a cool head would have brought the opening goal   !

 

10 minutes later and another chance was missed when Tolga’s fierce shot from just inside the box was unfortunate to hit the bar and out.

 

It was mostly all Ankaragucu in the 1^st half and they could consider themselves desperately unlucky to go in all square at the break   !

 

It was more of the same in the 2^nd half with Bahadir having only one save to make when he punched the ball clear from a corner.

 

With 15 minutes to go Ankaragucu conjured up the miss of the match which was really unforgiveable   !!     The Besiktas goalkeeper parried a fierce shot straight to the unmarked Macheda who with the goal at his mercy, headed the ball downwards and the rebound sailed over the bar.   No doubt Macheda will have nightmares for some time about this glaring faux pas   !!!

 

Sadly, Morutan was stretchered off near the end when he suddenly pulled-up when jumping for the ball.    It is to be hoped that it is not as serious as it looked.

 

So, the onus of Ankaragucu’s tactics for the 2^nd leg must be quite straight forward, ie, adopt a ‘home match’ mind-set and attack for 90 plus minutes like they did last night.   They must shrug off the idea that they are underdogs    !!!

 

For now, the impetus swings back to league action for a crucial match in Rize on Sunday in which they must take at least one point.

 

As always, watch this space for the outcome.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

GENCLERBIRLIGI REGAIN FOCUS !!

 

 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

After last week’s capitulation in the ‘mini’ Ankara Derby, Gencler is back on track to challenge for a play-off place after seeing-off Erzurum yesterday.

 

With only 3 matches left, it is now in their own hands, but they must first face 2^nd top of the league Goztepe next Sunday in what will surely be the match which defined their prospects of achieving it.

 

Despite Erzurum having the lion’s share of possession yesterday, they failed to take their numerous chances, especially in the 1^st half, and therefore paid the ultimate price.

 

On the other hand, Gencler took their chances and scored 2 goals which was really no more than they deserved after their persistence.   There can be no doubting their determination to make the play-offs, and had it not been for a dip in their early season form, they would probably have clinched it at this stage in the season.

 

GENCLERBIRLIGI              2                      Erzurumspor             0

 

Team – Ertugrul, Nzaba, Yigit, Babacan, Yasin, Oguzhan, Amilton, James, Akabueze, Ensar and Melih

 

Substitutes – Musa, M. Yatabare, Ozgur and Baran

 

It was Erzurum who looked the likelier of the two teams in the 1^st half and Gencler had Ertugrul to thank for restricting their attacks.   In the first 20 minutes of the match he saved two fierce long-range goal bound shots.

 

It took Gencler until 5 minutes before half time to trouble Erzurum when a long-range shot was parried by the goalkeeper and the follow-up shot was cleared by a defender on the line.

 

Erzurum almost opened the scoring a few minutes later when a goal bound shot was well saved by Ertugrul for a corner.

 

Then, almost on the half time whistle, and against the run of play, Gencler snatched the opener.    A long range goal bound shot by Ensar was parried by the goalkeeper and Melih (the predator  !!) was first to the ball to head in unchallenged.

 

Erzurum almost found the equaliser just after the resumption when a shot hit the post and rebounded to an Erzurum attacker who blasted the ball over with the goal at his mercy   !

 

Erzurum continued to search for the equaliser but the Gencler defence was resolute in thwarting their efforts in the final 3^rd.    Consequently, they gradually resorted to long range efforts.

 

Then, with 20 minutes to go, Gencler pulled the trigger.    A fast break on the left and the ball played to Akabueze in the centre, and from the edge of the box he sent his shot inside the left post.

 

5 minutes to go and Amilton almost made it 3 but his shot was well saved by the goalkeeper.

 

So, as I said earlier, Gencler face the acid test next Sunday when the travel to take-on an in-form Goztepe team who are only 6 points behind top of the league Eyupspor.     Both teams will be anxious to claim all 3 points so a close encounter is guaranteed.

 

As always, watch this space for the outcome.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

Besiktas 2-0 Ankaragücü

 

A dissapeointng defeat in Istanbul last night for Ankaragücü as bad defending and poor finishing ultimately cost the team taking any points from the game.

Team - Bahadir, Kitsiou, Uros, Mujakic, Kazimcam, Tolga, Efkan, Ali Kaan, Morutan, Bassogog, Ali Sow

Ankaragücü didn’t play to badly overall but again it was amateur defending that would play a big part in this game.

Kazimcam has struggled since joining the club on loan from Galatasaray and again he was all over the place against Besiktas. He almost scored and own goal when he headed the ball back across the face of goal and onto the post in the first half.

Bassogog at the other end played a lovely cross in for Ali Sowe who couldn’t even get his header on target as he headed over the bar.

Ernest Muci was the best player on the park and gave Besiktas the lead on the 17th minute. He was unmarked at the edge of the box and curled his shot past Bahadir.

Bahadir then made a couple of good saves from Muci and Gedson before Morutan hit the post and Tolga had his effort cleared off the line at the other end.

Into the second half and Kitsiou had a great chance but shot well over from about 5 yards out.

Gezzal then hit the bar at the other end from a free kick. And then the 2nd goal came as Muleka one of the smallest players on the park scored a header from a corner as he stood unmarked in the box.

Final score 2-0

Ankaragücü will be hoping for a better performance as both teams meet in the cup on Tuesday in Ankara!

GENCLERBIRLIGI UNDONE IN THE ‘MINI’ ANKARA DERBY !!

 

 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

I was only able to watch the first 30 minutes of the match yesterday, but even with only 4 matches left to play,  it looks likely that Gencler has blown their chance of making the play-offs.

 

They have a ‘home banker’ against already relegated Giresun, but their other 3 matches look very tough indeed, especially away to almost automatically promoted Goztepe.

 

Of course, as I have said many times here, there are no ‘easy’ matches in this league, so there is still all to play for, but ...........time is not on Gencler’s side   !!

 

Keciorengucu          2                   GENCLERBIRLIGI            1

 

Team – Ertugrul, Yasin, Babacan, Yigit, Nzaba, Akabueze, Oguzhan, Ensar, Amilton, M. Yatabare and Melih

 

Substitutes – James, Jimmy Durmaz, M. Cagiran, Ozgur and Oltan

 

Kecioren opened the scoring after 25 minutes when they were awarded a penalty after a VAR  check.     Yasin tripped a Kecioren attacker in the box and the referee had waved play on.   However, he was directed to the VAR and the penalty was quite rightly awarded.    Bitin stepped up and sent Ertugrul the wrong way.

 

Gencler equalised in time-added-on in the 1^st half through Amilton, but Kecioren struck the winning goal halfway through the 2^nd half with a goal by Cinan.

 

Traore of Kecioren received a RED card near the end which obviously didn’t affect the outcome.

 

Next up is a home match on 21 April against mid-table Erzurum and another difficult encounter likely.

 

As always, watch this space for the outcome.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

ANKARAGUCU – UP FOR THE FIGHT !!!

 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

I think we are all agreed that there is no doubting Ankaragucu’s determination to avoid relegation, and that said, it was quite clear last night that the effort put-in by the team reaped their just reward.    Coach Emre Bey has the players fighting for every ball and the will to win is there for all to see.

 

Having gone a goal down early in the match, Ankaragucu fought back to deservedly claim all 3 points and put a little more distance between them and the relegation zone.

 

True enough, with 6 matches left to play, there is still a lot to do, but the performance last night was encouraging for the final run-in.

 

ANKARAGUCU           3                         Gaziantep            1

 

Team – Bahadir, Kitsiou, Radakovic, Mujakic, Kazimcan, Ali Kaan, Tolga, Morutan, Efkan, Bassogog and Ali Sowe

 

Substitutes – Pedrinho, Tasos, Alexis, Macheda and Renaldo

 

Ankaragucu received a wake-up call after only 7 minutes of the match when Gaziantep scored the opening goal in their first attack, and it was basically down to the defence failing to clear the ball from inside the 6 yard box.   The ball fell kindly to Jevtovic in the centre whose shot went in high centre with Bahadir static.

 

It was all Ankaragucu after that shock opener and they equalised after 24 minutes when Bassogog picked-up the ball in the Ankaragucu half and took off with Gaziantep players in his wake.    He ran straight into the Gaziantep box and slid the ball to Ali Sowe in support and he tapped in for an excellent goal.      Wrong   !!!       VAR was called into play and the goal ruled out for offside.    Marginal, but unfortunately correct   !

 

Ankaragucu continued to attack and were duly rewarded 6 minutes later with a slick piece of skill by Efkan.   He received a long pin-point pass in the centre, shrugged off a challenge and side-footed the ball inside the right post.

 

In the run-up to the half time whistle, Ankaragucu was denied by the woodwork on two occasions.   Firstly, Ali Sowe hit the bar with a header and then Ali Kaan hit the post with a great shot.

 

However, into the 2^nd half, and the 2^nd goal arrived at the half way point when Ali Sowe received a lay-off pass in the centre and he made no mistake.

 

3 minutes later and the icing on the cake when Efkan’s fierce shot from outside the box in the centre whizzed inside the left post.

 

An excellent team performance and all credit to all the players who rose to the occasion.

 

The focus now switches to next Friday when Ankaragucu travel to take on Besiktas in what will be a dress rehearsal for their Cup Semi Final matches.     However, thoughts of the Cup are sure to be put on the back burner in favour of league points   !!

 

As always, watch this space for the outcome.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim