Friday, April 21, 2023

ANKARAGUCU .........SO-we .......GOOOOOD !!!

 



 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

(Headline suggested by Battle Damaged Kanka Damon).

 

Ali Sowe cemented his reputation with the Ankaragucu faithful last night by picking Ankaragucu up when they were faltering.     Apart from his 2 fantastic goals, his contribution throughout the match was immense........ as usual   !       A Man of the Match performance   !

 

Ankaragucu is not out of the woods yet, but the pressure is firmly back in the courts of the chasing pack .......... Umraniye, Giresun and Istanbulspor.      Also, Alanya, Antalya and Kasimpasa are now approaching the danger area in the league   !

 

Back to last night’s action ...............

 

ANKARAGUCU             3                       Giresun              1

 

Team – Gokhan, Kitsiou, Kevin, Atakan, Mujakic, Matej, Taylan, Zadid, Diack, Emre and Ali Sowe

 

Substitutes – Tasos, Pedrinho, Andrej, Oko and Arda

 

Most of the 1st half was a big disappointment with Ankaragucu having difficulty stringing passes together and Giresun giving them no time on the ball by chasing every player in possession.      It was a disjointed display by Ankaragucu with probably everyone expecting them to take control of the match from the off.

 

Having said that, Emre had a goal bound shot well save on the half hour mark, but Giresun seized the initiative a few minutes from the half time whistle.

 

A free kick on the left was sent over into the box which should have been attacked by Atakan, but he totally missed the ball which hit the body of Diack, who was behind him, and the ball was deflected into the goal.       Poor defending, but there was no denying that Giresun deserved to be ahead   !

 

The goal seemed to give Ankaragucu a wake-up call.     Into time added on and Ali almost found the equaliser when his header was sent just past the post.

 

Almost on the half time whistle and Ali (and all of us   !) thought that he had scored the equaliser.    There was a fast break down the left and the cross sent in to Ali whose first shot was parried by the goalkeeper, but the rebound was stroked in.       Aaaaargh ........ but, the referee was directed to the VAR for an offence committed by Mujakic in the build up and the goal was ruled out   !

 

Well, whatever was said by the Coach at half time certainly had the desired effect.     Ankaragucu came out a different team with all guns blazing   !!!

 

8 minutes into the 2nd half and the equaliser finally arrived and definitely my Goal of the Match.     Ali was sent a pass in the box on the right which he controlled near the goal line and sent in a screamer of a shot from a very acute angle which flew into the top left.

 

From this point, Ankaragucu gradually took control of the match showing much more determination and attacking threat.

 

5 minutes later and Ankaragucu almost went ahead when the goalkeeper parried the ball from a corner direct to the unmarked Mujakic, but he somehow contrived to send the ball into the clouds with the goal at his mercy.

 

3 minutes later and Kitsiou almost scored when his header hit the crossbar and was cleared.

 

However, the goal finally arrived with 15 minutes to go.    Pedrinho sent in a fierce shot which was deflected by a defender to Taylan who gratefully received the ball and shot from the left to inside the right post for a goal which Ankaragucu’s play fully deserved.

 

Tasos had 3 opportunities to score the 3rd.    Firstly, the goalkeeper made a brave save when one-on-one with Tasos.    Secondly, a screamer of a shot from outside the box hit the post and was cleared.     Then, he did score, but his goal was correctly ruled out for offside.

 

The 3rd goal finally arrived 6 minutes into time added on and it was that man Ali again.      A fast Ankaragucu attack down the left and Pedrinho made an excellent cut-back to Ali in the centre who sent his shot into the top right for a well executed goal.

 

So, a crucial 3 points to keep the pressure on the 3 teams which I mentioned at the beginning.    Ankaragucu has 7 matches left to avoid the drop and if they can maintain the momentum they showed in the 2nd half last night, there is still hope.

 

Next up is another home match against another team in similar circumstances to Ankaragucu and at present Kasimpasa in only 2 points ahead.    It goes without saying therefore that this is another of those ......... MUST WIN............. matches   !!

 

As always, watch this space for the outcome.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

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