Ankaragücü 2-1 Denizlispor match report!

 

Ankaragücü left it late again with another injury time winner this time against Denizlispor as they go one step closer to promotion. The team had to do without Zahid, Pinto, Erdem and Aatif due to injury and COVID which makes the 3 points even more important.

Team - Akin, Murat, Sinan, Yusuf, Yasin, Abdullah, Sahverdi, Ali Kaan, Ariyibi, Cem, Eren

Subs- Bahadir, Alperen, Erdi, Ulas, Ishak, Hasan, Atakan, Yasir, Geraldo, Arda

The conditions in Ankara was heavy snow but the grounds staff done a great job making sure the pitch was in playable but difficult conditions for the players.

The first chance of the match came for Ankaragücü after 4 minutes when Sahverdi shot from the edge of the box and his shot was deflected into the side netting. Minutes later Ankaragücü should have had a penalty when Cem saw his header handled in the box but the referee missed it much to the anger of the Ankaragücü players.

Yasin almost got lucky with a cross on the 20th minute but the ball went just over the bar. One minute later Yasin was the hero with an incredible recovery block as Ilhan was through on goal and took the ball round Akin, he had an empty net but Yasin used his speed and determination to get back and clear the ball.

Yusuf had a chance just before half time but he headed his shot well wide of the post and both teams went in at the break level.

HT 0-0

Ten minutes into the second half Omer almost gave Denizlispor the lead but for a good save from Akin.

Two minutes later and Ankaragücü took the lead. Ali Kaan saw his first effort cleared off the line, the ball came back out and found its way to Ali Kaan who placed a beautiful shot into the top corner and make it 1-0.

Denizlispor were level 10 minutes later when Oguz headed the visitors level after poor defending from Sinan and Yusuf. 

Ariyibi had a shot from distance saved by Abdulkadir in the Denizlispor goal as Ankaragücü pushed forward looking for the winner.

The winning goal came in injury time with a Hasan cross into the box for Yusuf who headed past Abdulkadir and give Ankaragücü the important 3 points.

I have to give credit to Yasin Gurler this week. Last week I said he was one of the worst football players I’ve seen. This week he was outstanding at both ends of the pitch and hopefully it gives him confidence to go and deliver these kind of performances every week and challenge Pinto for the LB position.

GENCLERBIRLIGI CAVE-IN TO MANISA’s 2nd HALF ONSLAUGHT !!

 

 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

At half time, I was wondering if Gencler would punish Manisa’s profligacy after going in 1-0 up, but Manisa came out with all guns blazing in the 2^nd half to stun Gencler and consign them to yet another defeat.

 

Manisa               3                    GENCLERBIRLIGI         1

 

Team – Ramazan, Musa, Metehan, Arda, Muhammed, Gokhan, Hrechyshkin, Lima, Tshibola, Baris and Altiparmak

 

Substitutes – Omurcan, Byelyayer, Serdarcan, Baran and Sallallich

 

It was mostly all Manisa in the 1^st half as they sent wave after wave of attacks towards the Gencler goal, but the Gencler defence held firm.    Ramazan in particular pulled off some great saves to thwart the Manisa forwards.    Three goal bound shots were saved in the 22^nd, 35^th and 45^th minute mark.

 

However, against the run of play, Gencler went in 1-0 up at half time when they were quite rightly awarded a penalty in the 38^th minute.    A Gencler free kick just outside the box was well saved by the Manisa goalkeeper who deflected the ball onto the bar, but the rebound was pushed away by a Manisa hand and the referee pointed straight to the spot.   Gokhan sent his shot inside the left post with the goalkeeper diving in the opposite direction.

 

It was mostly all Manisa again in the 2^nd half when they attacked relentlessly, but the Gencler defence was holding firm.     However, the deserved equaliser came in the 63^rd minute after a fluid sweeping move down the right with clever inter-passing.   The final pass was played into Erhan who sent his shot into the top left for a great team goal.

 

10 minutes later and it was Gencler’s turn to be punished for handball when Arda connected with  the ball by hand in his attempt to clear a cut-back.    Marvin sent the penalty inside the left post with Ramazan diving the wrong way.

 

10 minutes from the end and Okan made it 3 with an exquisite individual goal.    He received the ball near the half way line, surged forward avoiding tackles and curled the ball around Metehan into the top right with Ramazan static and probably expecting the ball to go out of play.

 

An inspired 2^nd half by Manisa, but things are looking a bit grim for Gencler as they stay in the bottom half looking over their shoulders at the relegation zone.

 

It doesn’t bode well when they have the Ankara Derby coming up next.     They will take on Ankaragucu on Sunday 6^th February with no matches next weekend.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

GENCLERBIRLIGI POSTED ABSENT LAST NIGHT !!

 

 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

An evening which Gencler will want to put behind them and consign it to history.

 

Neither goalkeeper was troubled in the 1^st half with Gencler having 4 tame shots on goal.   On the other hand, Adana didn’t even put one shot on goal to give Adiyaman some exercise  !!

 

The only point of interest in the 1^st half was the brief poignant ceremony of a one minute applause to commemorate the sudden death of ex-Gencler player Ahmet Calik in the 5^th minute of the match (he wore the No5 shirt while he was a Gencler player).     Sadly, he died in a car accident on the way from Konya to Ankara to make arrangements for his wedding and the Kanka Group send their condolences to his family and also his future intended  bride.

 

GENCLERBIRLIGI              0                         Adanaspor              3

 

Team – Adiyaman, Omurcan, Metehan, Kula, Kerem, Gokhan, Tshibola, Baris, Serdarcan, Lima and Eleka

 

Substitutes – Byelyayev, Musa, Baran, Sahindere and Altiparmak

 

Adana came out for the 2^nd half a different team and started to play some slick football going forward.

 

It only took Adana 5 minutes into the 2^nd half to open the scoring with their first attack on goal in the match.   A great run down the right wing and in came the cross for the unmarked Tetteh to bullet a header in.

 

Adana had the bit between their teeth now, and 6 minutes later in was 2.     A fast break down the left and a well timed pass to the centre for Bruns to score through Adiyaman’s legs.   

 

7 minutes later it was 3 with the Gencler defence pulled all over the place.     An excellent flowing move and then the classic cut-back for Tetteh to side foot the ball in.

 

Gencler almost grabbed a consolation goal in time added on when the Adana goalkeeper saved a goal bound shot from Byelyayev.

 

So, another disappointment for Gencler to add to their recent spate of poor results.      This result leaves them only 4 points above the relegation zone and the time to hit the panic button is not far off.

 

So, the next match takes on added significance   !!     They travel to play mid-table Manisa next Saturday 22^nd January.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

ANKARAGUCU RIDE THEIR LUCK AGAINST THE 10 MEN !!

 

 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

Ankaragucu can count themselves rather fortunate to return from Kocaeli with all 3 points.

 

Although reduced to 10 men after only 30 minutes, Kocaeli made Ankaragucu fight till the end and at times it would have been difficult to guess which team was playing with the 10 men  !!!

 

Notwithstanding, the bottom line is that Ankaragucu dug deep and finally found the winning goal to stay on equal points with Umraniye at the top of the league.

 

Kocaelispor            1                      ANKARAGUCU               2

 

Team – Akin, Erdem, Yusuf, Sinan, Yasin, Ishak, Sahverdi, Zahid, Aatif, Murat and Eren

 

Substitutes – Abdullah, Ali Kaan, Ariyibi, Geraldo and Cem

 

Ankaragucu was lucky not to be 2 goals down after 15 minutes of play.       After 10 minutes, Kocaeli had a free kick on the right which hit the left post and the ball rebounded into the grateful arms of Akin.

 

A few minutes later Ankaragucu had another let-off when Akin parried a goal bound shot and the ball was cleared to safety.

 

Then, against the run of play, Ankaragucu went ahead on the half hour mark with a fortunate deflected goal from a Sahverdi shot.    The shot, from outside the box looked covered by the goalkeeper, but a cruel deflection off a defender sent the ball away from his outstretched arms and inside the right post.    Lady Luck was smiling on Ankaragucu last night  !!!

 

2 minutes later and she was still smiling for Ankaragucu   !!!

 

Cisse received a straight RED card for a seemingly innocuous challenge on Aatif.    In all fairness to the referee, he was close to the action and perhaps he saw something in Cisse’s eyes which we couldn’t see   !?    

 

So, was this the spark that Ankaragucu needed to go into all out attack    ?         Errrrrmmmm......no !!!        Ankaragucu continued with their annoying tactic of spraying the ball around in their own half and midfield area, but not creating any serious goal scoring opportunities   !

 

This tactic was punished just before the half time whistle when Kocaeli found the equaliser.     It was Yusuf the Bombscare who gifted it   !!     His attempted clearance inside the box rebounded off him and an attacker into the air.    His subsequent back header went straight to Pereira who probably couldn’t believe his luck as he blasted the ball into the net.

 

Into the 2^nd half and it took a while for the penny to drop for Mustafa Bey   !!!       At last he brought on Ali Kaan and Ariyibi to try and find the winner.

 

Aatif, Erdem and Zahid all had good chances to find the winner.     Aatif’s shot went narrowly past the post, Erdem’s free kick hit the bar and was cleared and Zahid’s shot was past the post.

 

Into the last 5 minutes and it took a piece of  individual skill from Murat to find the winner after the attacking onslaught.    He made a surging run on the right, drove into the box and sent his fierce shot through the outstretched arms of the goalkeeper.

 

I suppose it was no more than Ankaragucu deserved after they decided to ‘wake up’ and attack Kocaeli in the 2^nd half.      However, surely Mustafa Bey must drill this concept of attack into the players for 90 plus minutes and not for just certain stages of a match   ??!!

 

Ankaragucu will be in action again at home against 2^nd bottom of the league Denizlispor next Saturday 22^nd January.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

GENCLERBIRLIGI OFFER LITTLE, EXCEPT IN DEFENCE !!

 

 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

A poor 1^st half tonight which was mainly dominated by Eyup, but the Gencler defence was able to deal with most of their attacks.

 

Gencler threatened only once in the entire match when Metehan had a downward header well saved.

 

Eyupspor               1                     GENCLERBIRLIGI             0

 

Team – Adiyaman, Kerem, Metehan, Arda, Omurcan, Gokhan, Hrechyshkin, M. Sahindere, Lima, Baris and Eleke

 

Substitutes – Eralp, Sallalich, Muhammed and Altiparmak

 

The only goal of the match was scored by Ankaragucu Olde Boy, Umut Bulut, 3 minutes into the 2^nd half.    Good inter-play between 3 Eyup forwards on the right, then the cross into the box.   Umut made a well timed run between 2 defenders to stroke the ball in with ease.

 

He almost scored again 30 minutes later, but after a great sweeping move down the right, the cross was just too far in front of him to connect.

 

The Eyup forwards gave the Gencler defence a torrid evening, especially the speedy and skillful Mete Kaan.    Therefore, Gencler can have no complaints on returning to Ankara without any points.

 

It will be back to the drawing board for Gencler to prepare for the visit of Adanaspor on Monday 17^th January who sit 3 points above Gencler in mid-table.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

COVID-HIT ANKARAGUCU EXCEED EXPECTATIONS !!

 

 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

It is never plain sailing for Ankaragucu   !!

 

Ankaragucu was unable to play 4 influential players last night, and against all the odds, won all 3 points to stay in touch with the top 3 in the league.

 

Last week Owusu lost his father and the Kanka Group send our condolences to him and his family.

 

Also, Ariyibi, Pinto and Eren contracted the hated Covid and we wish them a speedy recovery.

 

So, with all 3 of Ankaragucu’s front men out, it was always going to be a big ask for the team to find goals, but they did in the end thanks to a fortuitous substitution.

 

 ANKARAGUCU            1                     Tuzla            0

 

Team – Akin, Yasin, Yusuf, Sinan, Erdem, Ali Kaan, Ishak, Aatif, Zahid, Murat and Cem

 

Substitutes – Abdullah, Sahverdi, Geraldo and Babacan

 

The 1^st half was a ‘yawn’ of scrappy play with Aatif and Ali Kaan trying to drive Ankaragucu forward, but lacking bodies in the danger area to convert the chances.

 

However, there was one piece of excellent play in the 5the minute which almost produced the goal when Zahid received the ball just outside the box on the left and shot inside the right post, but the goalkeeper was able to scramble the ball away for a corner.

 

Tuzla only threatened once in the match but Akin was equal to the weak effort and saved easily.

 

Ankaragucu took more control of the match in the 2^nd half and again their lack of firepower up front was their undoing.

 

Aatif sent a good chance well over the bar, then Yasin sent a bullet of a header over the bar from a corner.   Another header by Aatif was headed over.

 

With 15 minutes to go it was all one way traffic and then Ahmet saw RED when he kicked Sahverdi in the face when allegedly going for the ball !!!

 

Ankaragucu continued their onslaught on the Tuzla goal and in the 3^rd minute of time added on came the goal from an inspired late substitution.

 

A corner on the right was sent over into the box and the ball fell conveniently for Alperen Babacan to fire the ball in the send players and fans wild with delight  !

 

It was no more than Ankaragucu deserved after their bombardment of the Tuzla goal, especially in the 2^nd half.

 

Ankaragucu remain 2^nd top still 3 points behind Umraniye.

 

Ankaragucu will be in action again next Saturday 15^th January away to Kocaeli with Umraniye travelling to play Istanbulspor on the same day.

 

Well played last night Ankaragucu   !!!

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim