ANKARAGUCU – CARNIVAL TIME IN ANKARA

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

17,000 happy punters in the 19 Mayis Stadium yesterday (minus 100 Eyupspor hardy souls !) sang and danced for 90 plus minutes and even did the ANKARA Wave (previously known as the Mexican Wave !).

A 6^th straight win for Ankaragucu against a good Eyupspor team saw Ankaragucu maintain the status quo, ie, joint top spot in the league with Altinordu. Unfortunately, both Altinordu and Alanya won yesterday.

ANKARAGUCU 3 Eyupspor 1

Team – Bayram, Aytac, Erhan, Serhat A, Emre, Volkan, Serhat G, Selim, Erdem, Mehmet and Levent.

Substitutes used – Umut, Kaan and Serkan, Gokhan Akkan, Aydin, Gonulacar, Hasan

Yours truly met Naarrich Kankie, Lucy, for her first footie match in Ankara and she is now 'hooked' on Ankaragucu. We had a nostalgic walk through Genclik Park and had pre-match cay in the Sports Club Cafe.

Into the Stadium where we were joined by Apple Kanka Erman and his friend Mehmet, Battle Damaged Kanka Damon, Cider Kanka John and special guests from the UK ….... Burra Kanka Trevor, his wife Sue and their son Sam who works in Ankara and supports …... shhhhh …. whisper it ….... Genclerbirligi !! A photo was taken of Burra Kanka and should be up here later.

It only took 5 minutes for Ankaragucu to open the scoring when Mehmet was put through on the right. He sent in a lofted punt cum shot into the top left hand corner of the goal with Emrehan the Eyup keeper clawing air.

What a start and we could have been forgiven for thinking there was going to be a slaughter. Eyup soon settled into their stride and started to play footie.

However, it was still Ankaragucu looking the more dangerous of the two and with Mehmet in sparkling form, I was hopeful that more goals would follow.

Then, on the 25 minute mark in Eyup's first serious attack, they equalised against the run of play. A break down the left wing and a classic cut-back to the unmarked Emrah and whoosh ….. Bayram had no chance.

The game was end-to-end now with the equalising goal firing the Eyup team up, and it was a relief when the half time whistle came with the score even.

Whatever was said during the half time break by Fuat Bey it certainly worked !

Ankaragucu came out of the traps firing on all cylinders and it only took 5 minutes for Levent to put Ankaragucu back into the lead.

From another Ankaragucu attacking move, the ball broke to the unmarked Levent who was lurking inside the box, and he steered it into the corner for number 2.

It was all Ankaragucu now and between the 60^th and 75^th minutes Mehmet should have put the game beyond Eyup. Twice he sent screamers just past the post. Then another just over, and yet again bringing out a great save from Emrehan to thwart Mehmet.

There was only one moment in the 2^nd half 15 minutes from the end when we had the jitters. Serkan was caught dithering on the ball which allowed Eyup to break forward. Fortunately, Bayram came to the rescue.

Almost on the final whistle now and the tension was building. Then Kaan had a great break down the left, and with only Emrehan to beat, his shot hit the post and bounced clear to a defender.

Into time added on and we were all baying for the referee to blow the bloody whistle ….... and then …... a great run down the left wing by 'Man of the Match' Mehmet, he looked up and cut the ball back across the face of the goal for Levent to stroke it in.

What a finish ….. up the volume and …... singing Ankaaaarrrraaaaagoooojooo !!!!

The customary lap of honour with the players dancing their way to each of the tribunes and then it was off to The Red Lion Club to watch the Gencler match and Scotland's great victory over Eyeirrrrlind in the funny shaped ball game yessssssssssssss.

All the best from a still euphoric Eski Kanka Jim