ANKARAGUCU – ALMOST THERE !!

 

 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

Apologies for the brevity of my report, but we were subjected to TRT flipping between matches last night and so it was difficult to focus on the Ankaragucu match.     Also, there  was Spring Cleaning underway in The Bira Park which was a distraction.     So,  if I have missed any important phases of the match then please put the details in the comments section.

 

It has to be said that it is always difficult to bounce straight back into the top league after relegation, but Ankaragucu is a whisker away from achieving just that.

 

Only one point is required from Ankaragucu’s last 3 matches to confirm promotion.    However, which team will be promoted as Champions is still up for grabs between Ankaragucu and Umraniye.    Which team can hold their nerve and win their final matches will be the key !!

 

Last night Ankaragucu did the biz by winning 3 points in Balikesir, but I’m sure the Coach (and us supporters !!) were hoping for more goals to boost the goal difference and try to move clear of Umraniye.     However, I suppose we have to be content for the time being and hope that more goals will come in the last 3 matches.

 

Balikesir             0                     ANKARAGUCU              2

 

Team – Bahadir, Erdem, Yusuf, Alperen, Yasin, Abdullah, Sahverdi, Aatif, Geraldo, Ariyibi and Owusu

 

Substitutes – Ali Kaan, Eren, Ishak, Cem and Murat

 

I have to say that last night Balikesir didn’t play like a team propping up the league and assured of relegation.    They certainly made Ankaragucu work for their 3 points   !!

 

It was a defensive blunder inside the box in the 13^th minute which gave Ankaragucu the first goal and settled the nerves.    The Balikesir goalkeeper came rushing out to the edge of the box to collect the ball but misjudged his angles and Owusu was there first to guide the ball into the empty goal.

 

From the re-start, Balikesir made a fast break and Bahadir had to save a goal bound shot with his leg.

 

Again, near the half hour mark, a Balikesir attacker sent in a shot which looked like a goal all the way, but it went narrowly past the post.

 

We had to wait until the 70^th minute for Ankaragucu to put the match to bed and calm our frayed nerves.    A break on the left by Yasin who cut-in to the goal line on the left and made what looked like a cut-back, but the ball sneaked inside the left post between the post and the goalkeeper’s legs.     A goal is a goal, and we take it gratefully !!!

 

Ankaragucu will be at home next Sunday 1^st May when mid-table Samsun will be the visitors.    Also, on the same day and KO time, Umraniye will be at home against Balikesir.       We will be hoping that Balikesir puts up similar stiff resistance to last night’s performance and can perhaps snatch a goal or two  !!!

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim