Galatasaray 1-0 Ankaragücü match report!

 Ankaragücü put up a spirited performance in Istanbul despite missing 9 players through Suspension and COVID-19. But it was again the inefficiency from the forward players who wasted too many chances and the final ball still not good enough.

Team - Freidrich, Sarlija, Pazdan, Erdi, Turan, Atakan, Assane, Emre, Saba, Bolingi, Borven 

Subs - Furkan Beklevic, Mert Topuz, Idriz Voca, Daniel Lukasik, Mucahit Akcay, Berke Gurbuz, Orkan Cinar, Luka Adzic

There was a starting debut for Atakan Cankaya who was the best player on the park for Ankaragücü and put in an excellent performance. 

Ankaragücü has the first chance of the game on the 19th minute after excellent play by Assane and Saba but Assane got his shot all wrong as he sliced it wide when he should have at least hit the target from inside the box.

Three minutes later Omer Bayram had the first chance for Galatasaray as his free kick hit the side netting from 25 yards.

Saba had an effort from distance saved by Okan after good play from Emre Gural and at this point Ankaragücü were playing well and causing Galatasaray a few problems on the counter attack.

Then just before half time an excellent move from Galatasaray down the left hand side caught out Sarlija and Saracchi crossed for Babel who finished brilliantly into top corner giving Freidrich no chance.

Half Time 1-0

Ankaragücü should have equalised on the 56th minute when Bolingi had a great opportunity, but he somehow miss hit his effort and the ball went wide with only Okan to beat. It was an awful night for Bolingi who was constantly off side, giving the ball away and wasting any opportunities that came his way.

Sofian Feghouli had a chance to make it two for Galatasaray late on but for a great block by Atakan Cankaya.

There would be no equaliser and Galatasaray held on for the 3 points. Considering Ankaragücü had so many first team players missing it’s difficult to be critical of the players. But questions will again be asked of the players signed in the summer.

Bolingi and Saba were wasteful with their end product, Borven had a couple of opportunities which he failed to even get a shot on goal, and Adzic again was wasteful with his passing and decision making when he came on. Daniel Lukasik couldn’t even get minutes on the pitch despite so many players out.

Next up is the home Cup match against Kocaelispor on Tuesday followed with Fatih Karagumruk next Sunday which will be even more difficult than the Galatasaray match. The team must win against Kocaeli on Tuesday night and build some winning confidence ahead of the must win match on Sunday.