Monday, January 25, 2021

ANKARAGUCU ........ SO NEAR, YET SO FAR !!

 



 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

There is no doubting Alanya Spor’s credentials, but even allowing for the fact that they had 65% possession and 6 shots on target tonight, they were helped along the way by two  Ankaragucu deflections which turned the match around after a fantastic opening spell by Ankaragucu.   Yes, I know, we must always bear in mind that the match is 90 plus minutes   !!!

 

With Ankaragucu 2-0 ahead after half an hour, we could have been forgiven for thinking about all 3 points, even allowing for the water-logged pitch and the constant downpour.   Mistakes were being made all over the pitch with the ball holding up, and it was from a mistake that Alanya pulled a goal back before half time which was rather cruel on Ankaragucu after their 1st half exploits.

 

Alanyaspor            4                       ANKARAGUCU         3

 

Team – Korcan, Pinto, Erdi, Sarlija, Alikaan, Lukasik, Ibrahim, Endri, Paintsil, Saba and Badji

 

Substitutes – Voca, Pazdan, Emre, Borven and Atila

 

It only took Ankaragucu 2 minutes to make their 1st attack and it resulted in a shock opener.    Saba went scurrying down the right wing, looked up, and sent an inch perfect cross to Paintsil on the left who shot into the top left with the goalkeeper too late to cover and save.

 

Almost on the half hour mark and another break down the right by Saba.    Again, a quick look-up, and he sent an excellent cross to Paintsil on the left who volleyed into the right with the goalkeeper well beaten.

 

Alanya was stunned, but they had a lucky break on the 37th minute mark when a shot came in from just outside the box and took a cruel slight deflection off a defender which wrong footed Korcan and Alanya was back in the match  !

 

Alanya came out for the 2nd half a different team and straight from the kick off were firing on all cylinders and pushing Ankaragucu deep into defence.     4 consecutive corners had Ankaragucu reeling and hoofing the ball anywhere.

 

However, the Ankaragucu defence held-up until the 53rd minute when another cruel deflection caused the equaliser.    Following yet another corner, a shot came in from the right and Lukasik deflected it inside the right post with Korcan again wrong footed and helpless.

 

8 minutes later and Alanya was in the lead and there was no luck attached to this goal.   Yet another corner, and the ball was cut-back from the right to the unmarked Babacar in the 6 yard box who tapped in.

 

All credit to under pressure Ankaragucu at this stage, as they fought back 3 minutes later with the equaliser.   A free kick on the right gave Pazdan a chance with a header, which was saved for a corner.    From the resultant corner, Saba hooked the ball in to Badji in the centre who managed to squeeze in a shot between 2 defenders.

 

I have to say that I was reasonably content to settle for a point at this stage of the match with only about 10 minutes left, but .............. aaargh ......... it was not to be.

 

Firstly, Alanya hit the bar with a shot before they bagged the winner with 10 minutes left.    There can be no doubting the quality of the goal from Moubandje who sent in a bullet of a shot from just inside the box on the left to well inside the right post with Korcan well beaten.

 

Ankaragucu can consider themselves unfortunate not to have taken at least a point, but will need to re-group for the upcoming ‘6 pointer’ against fellow strugglers Erzurumspor in Erzurum next Sunday.     It’s an olde cliché, but ............. this is definitely a MUST WIN match to keep the momentum going to avoid being stuck in the relegation zone.

 

Before closing, I have to praise the performance of my Man of the Match, Paintsil tonight.    Not only for his 2 well taken goals, but for the numerous times he tracked back to help his defence.    His performances have been improving and I think we have yet to see even more from him  !!

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

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