THE TURKISH CUP – ANKARAGUCU ELIMINATED WITH A WHIMPER !

or …….to use Hurriyet’s headline (again !) ….. ‘Ankaragucu Throw in the Towel’ !

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

Ankaragucu’s weaknesses were exposed yet again yesterday in Eskisehir. No creation in midfield and a powder-puff attack.

Eskisehirspor 2 ANKARAGUCU 1

When the Cup Group stages were announced last year, and under normal circumstances, the betting man’s money would have been on Ankaragucu and Fener to qualify for the Quarter Finals. However, in these days they are not ‘normal circumstances’ as I have mentioned in my league posts recently.

Goals win matches, and yet again Ankaragucu failed in this department. In their 4 group matches against Fener, Bursa, Eskisehir and Tokat they scored a miserable 2 goals and conceded 4. Every picture tells a story !

I don’t have the gory details of yesterday’s match except the scorers.

Eskisehir opened the scoring in the first half. Jaba equalised 5 minutes into the 2nd Half, but Bulent did the damage 10 minutes later.

Ankaragucu’s ‘new boy’ from Trabzonspor, Hasan, started in his first match and excelled himself by receiving a red card half way through the 2nd Half !

So, we will follow Bursa’s progress in the Cup, and if they are eliminated, then we will no doubt lose interest !!

What’s to play for now ? Reluctant as I am to say it, but ….. Super League survival !

It will be a long hard slog on the run-in, and that kicks-in on weekend of 24/25 January against Antalyaspor at the 19 Mayis Stadium in a must win league match. Details of timings later.

All the best from ‘still optimistic, ……but only just’ Eski Kanka Jim