GENCLERBIRLIGI STILL STUCK IN THE RELEGATION ZONE !!

 

 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

Genclerbirligi misfired tonight, and even with the lion’s share of the play they couldn’t score from open play.    Karagumruk on the other hand were more assured throughout the match and fully deserved their 3 points.   

 

It was a scrappy match, with Gencler in particular being wayward with their crosses and final passes in the final 3^rd.       They never gave up, but the spark in their play was sadly missing tonight.

 

GENCLERBIRLIGI       1              Fatih Karagumruk          3

 

Team – Nordfeldt, Johanssen, Arda, Toure, Polomat, Piris, Soner, Yilmaz, Candeias, Furman and Sio

 

Substitutes – Ilker, Mustafa, Berisberk and Karakas

 

I must admit that I was nearly drifting off to sleep and boredom until the 21^st minute when the action eventually started.   A Karagrumruk attacker was brought down just outside the box .......which was the referee’s initial decision.    However, after a message in his earpiece, he gave a penalty.    In hindsight, the offence was only just inside the box, although it was a marginal decision and probably the correct one.

 

Lucas took the penalty and sent the ball to the right with Nordfeldt diving in the opposite direction.

 

15 minutes later and it was 2 when Ndao picked up the ball on the right wing and went on a solo run.    He cut into the box and fired in a shot from an acute angle which went in at the left post with Nordfeldt well and truly beaten.

 

Into the 2^nd half and Gencler had Nordfeldt to thank for saving a goal bound shot shortly after the resumption.

 

Karagumruk was still dictating play and looking the more dangerous when Gencler received a lifeline in the 72^nd minute.    A cross came in from the right, and with no Gencler forwards near the ball, a defender tried to clear with his left foot while on the ground.   He did clear the ball, but the referee deemed that he had handled it first.     I have to say that I felt sorry for him because it was clearly ball to hand and unintentional.   However, the new rule on this subject doesn’t give referees much flexibility, and so a penalty it was.

 

Piris took it and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way with a perfect penalty.

 

Any hope of a Gencler revival was dashed 15 minutes later when Karagumruk broke down the right.    The cross came in and a header was goal bound until Nordfeldt pulled off a great safe and parried the ball.    Unfortunately, the ball went straight to the unmarked Sobiech who had the easiest of tasks to stroke the ball in with Nordfeldt helpless and the Gencler defence all at sea.

 

So, another home match which (on paper) Gencler should have won, but they can have no complaints about losing tonight.     All credit to an efficient Karagumruk team who, unlike Gencler, took their chances and deservedly all 3 points.

 

Gencler face another mountain next Tuesday when they travel to Goztepe, which is never an easy place to go and collect points.

 

As always, watch this space for the outcome.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim