ANKARAGUCU DISRESPECT THE TURKISH CUP !!!

 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

It was a sad day in the history of Ankaragucu when they sent a 2^nd String Team to play Super League Sivas in the 5^th Round of the Turkish Cup last night with only 3 recognised 1^st Team players in the squad (Ariyibi, Murat and Zahid).

 

I can’t understand the reasoning behind this decision, especially as it is the only prestigious Cup Competition in the football calendar, and Ankaragucu don’t have another league match until the 8^th of January  !

 

Shame on the management for disrespecting this famous competition   !!!

 

I don’t intend to criticise any of the players who played last night who gave their all within their capabilities.    Also, with the Sivas team weakened by international commitments to Africa, it was a golden opportunity to progress further and perhaps have some money spinning cup fixtures in the following rounds  !

 

It leaves me wondering what other unbelievable decisions this management team will make before the end of the season  !!

 

Sivasspor              2                    ANKARAGUCU           1

 

Team – Bahadir, Murat, Alperen, Erdi, Yasin, Ulas Sahverdi, Aatif, Geraldo, Ariyibi and Cem

 

Substitutes – Imdat, Yarabay, Zahid, Osmanoglu and Durak

 

As for the match last night, it was really all about how long it would take Sivas to open the scoring, and that eventually happened after 18 minutes.

 

It was a classic striker’s headed goal by the impressive James who bulleted the ball in from a right wing cross.

 

The same player put the match to bed shortly after the resumption on 56 minutes when he exercised a piece of predatory skill to flick in an angled shot at the near post from a left wing cross with an Ankaragucu defender and Bahadir deceived.

 

15 minutes later it was almost 3, but Bahadir made an acrobatic save to prevent a certain goal from an exquisite lob.

 

Ankaragucu grabbed their consolation goal near the end with an excellent solo goal from Sahverdi who sent a shot from just outside the box in the centre to inside the left post with the goalkeeper only managing to help the ball in with his fingertips.

 

The Ankaragucu players must put this match behind them now and focus on reclaiming top spot in the league from Umraniye.

 

The management team and players can possibly restore some pride in the Club with a consistent run of wins, and to end the season as League Champions   !!!

 

That begins on Saturday 8^th January 2022 at home to 10^th placed Tuzla.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim