ANKARAGUCU - NO CHRISTMAS CHEER ON THE BANKS OF THE BOSPHOROS !!

Greetings Kankas and Kankies

There was no Christmas Cheer flowing in Istanbul last night, but we made up for it in The Cappadokia Bar !!

Besiktas 3 ANKARAGUCU 1

Maniac Kanka, Battle Damaged Kanka and I were settled down to watch the pre-match hype and were joined by the `shivering` Gencler Kankas on their return from the Stadium where Gencler were unluckily undone by Lighthousegarden.

Flying Dutchman Kanka and his beautiful lady Legal Kankie Saadet, Alpine Kanka and Mini Alpine Kanka. Alpine Kanka Wolfgang won the award of the Best Dressed Man with his outfit of Gencler Top and Ankaragucu scarf !!

Club Captain Emre was an absentee from the team and so the captain’s armband was worn by Kirita. A sensible choice in view of his experience of captaining Dinamo Bucharest a few years ago.

The match kicked off and both teams came out of their starting blocks like an express train ! Lots of chances were being created with both teams committed to attack and ANKARAGUCU went close a few times with counter attacks. However, both goalkeepers were in fine form and were putting up the shutters. It was breathless stuff from both teams.

It continued at this fast pace until 10 minutes from the break and I was beginning to think of going in at 0-0 and the posibility of Hakan Kutlu devising a change of tactics to 4-3-3, when….. it happened. Another fast break from defence by Besiktas with the ANKARAGUCU defence on back-pedal and Tello stabbed in the opening goal.

I suppose it was inevitable that a goal would come from one of the teams with both teams committed to attack, but unfortunately the wrong team scored ! Kirita was having a great game in defence and it was a sore goal to concede with the ANKARAGUCU defence having dealt with everything that Besiktas threw at them.

The goal must have dealt a blow to ANKARAGUCU’s confidence and Besiktas took control for the last 10 minutes of the half with ANKARAGUCU on the back foot and content to ride the match out until the half time whistle. However, Besiktas put the sword in just on the half time whistle with another excellent goal from Serdar.

Doom and gloom in The Cappadokia, but the amber nectar was flowing and yours truly livened things up with some half time singing of ANKARAGUCU songs to put some smiles back on the kankas faces !! Eski Kanka is not renowed for his singing voice !!

ANKARAGUCU came out for the 2nd half in the same formation, ie, 4-4-2 much to my disgust, but the smiles were back on the faces when Bebbe headed in a great goal 10 minutes into the 2nd half to give us some hope of a final onslaught for an equaliser.

It has to be said that Bebbe was his usual self this week with lots of running up front and tracking back to help out the defence. However, Jaba will not want to remember this match after missing at least 2 great chances to put the ball in the net.

Then disaster. Half was through the 2nd half, a long speculative shot from Delgado which under normal circumstances would have been `bread and butter` for Serkan and……. Goal ! Serkan had misjudged the flight of the ball, dived too early, and the ball went sailing into the net above his body ! OK, mistakes will be made, but this one was a real howler !!

All credit to ANKARAGUCU for the remainder of the match for chasing the 2nd goal. Their heads never went down, and also all credit to Kirita for continuing to motivate the players to greater efforts.

Lots of positives to take from this match which we will need for the visit of a strong Kayseri team next Saturday. If ANKARAGUCU can play for `90 Minutes` against Besiktas then the same must be said for the Kayseri match !!

With only 1 match remaining till the winter break the standings are –

Galatasaray 35
Sivas 34
F’bahce 34
Besiktas 31

ANKARAGUCU is in 8th position on 22 points.
Genclerbirligi is still 3rd bottom on 14 points.

Still much work to be done after the winter break if the UEFA Cup dream is to be realised. However, Gencler will have other matters on their mind, ie, mid-table security !

Meeting at the Chopin Bar next Saturday at 11.30am. Maniac Kanka and I will definitely be there !!

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim