ANKARAGUCU – A STRONG STORM !

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

Actually, it’s not my headline – it was nicked from Hurriyet, but for the kankas at the match yesterday it was fantastic, amazing, unbelievable, super-fantastic …… OK enuff, but please forgive Hurriyet and me for getting carried away on a wave of euphoria !

The fact is that Ankaragucu has now won 3 in a row !

ANKARAGUCU 1 Hacettepe 0

We met up as usual in The Chopin Bar. Minesota Kankie Ema and her friend Larissa from Brazil for her first match in Ankara (which probably won’t be her last). Kaleci Kanka Tansu, Mountaineering Kanka Robbie, Connect Kanka Steve and Battle Damaged Kanka Damon joined us late for a ‘quickie drinkie’ and then off to the Stadium.

We were given tickets to Gates 11 and 12 so we couldn’t make contact with Maniac and Yankee if they were there ?!

Gecekondu and Maraton were full and there were the usual two groups in Kapali. I counted 13 Hacettepe supporters in the away end, but it could have been 14 – I won’t argue the point !

This was our first chance to see some of the latest arrivals in the team and overall I was pleased with their contribution.

However, the first half was a disappointment with most of the action in midfield, passes going astray and the goalkeepers not overly troubled.

Ankaragucu did have the best chance near the end of the first half when Semavi was put through with only Recep in goal to beat. I was screaming for him to cut the ball back to the incoming and unmarked Jaba, but he elected to shoot. Great save from Recep who spread himself out and saved Semavi’s shot.

Half time and still all to play for, but the kankas were shaking their heads in frustration at Ankaragucu’s feeble attempts to put Hacettepe under sustained pressure and create chances. Some of the adjectives used were ….. boring, congested midfield, uninspiring …… get the picture ?

The second half got underway with a more determined Ankaragucu performance but the cutting edge was still missing, although Jaba had a couple of near things which on another day might have produced goals.

There were still too many high balls being punted up to De Negris and when he was able to win anything in the air, there were no takers from his knockdowns and back headers. Sevami was busy beavering away in midfield and the left wing in the mould of old favourite Umut Bulut and he was my man of the match. Santos was commanding in defence throughout the match and he was Robbie’s man of the match. I agree he had a great game and is improving every match.

Ankaragucu moved into overdrive halfway through the second half with a concerted period of pressure and it was from one of those forward thrusting moves that the breakthrough came.

New Captain, Burak, played the ball out of the right side of defence and signalled for Ceyhun to make a run from midfield to the right wing. The pass was perfectly weighted and Ceyhun took the ball around a defender and sent over an inch perfect cross for the in-rushing De Nigris to bullet a header into the top left hand corner with Recep clawing air. Defo a contender for goal of the season !

Cue …… up the volume, smiles back on faces and join in the singing and dancing !

In all fairness to Hacettepe they didn’t let their heads go down, but even their small band of supporters would have to agree that Ankaragucu should have had the match wrapped-up long before the 75th minute.

There was a lap of honour from the players at the end, and the tribunes gave Hakan Kutlu a rousing chorus too. Reminded me of the scenes after the Scottish League Cup Final of 2007 when the fans wouldn’t allow the Hibs players back to the dressing room !

There was also a performance from Barbaros on the centre circle doing an impression of an Ankaragucu amigo ! Heady stuff !

Back to The Chopin for match analysis and the resulting forecast for next week’s encounter with Gencler. The unanimous decision was …… FOUR in a row !!!

Wins for Eskisehir and Denizli still keeps the pressure on Ankaragucu, but at least we are out of the 3rd bottom position. That ‘honour’ now belongs to Antalya.

Watch your in-boxes for details of next week’s meeting date and time.

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

PS ……. Congratulations to Connect Kanka Steve for witnessing his first Ankaragucu goal at the 19 Mayis Stadium in 5 attempts !