ANKARAGUCU FINALLY AROUSE FROM SLUMBER ...........IN THE 2nd HALF !!

 

 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

Ankaragucu was back to their frustrating worst last night in the 1^st half with Bahadir having more touches of the ball than any other player (from back-passes  !!!), playing from side-to-side in their own half and hoofing high balls up to Ali which were swallowed up by the Samsun defence.

 

It surely wasn’t out of fear of the opposition who haven’t won a match in 10 outings this season   ??!!

 

Ankaragucu had only one shot on target in the 1^st half when Rodrigues let rip with a goal bound shot which was well saved.

 

Rodrigues had two other chances in the 1^st half, one of which was blasted over the bar when well placed, and the other was into the side-netting.

 

ANKARAGUCU              2                         Samsunspor             0

 

Team – Bahadir, Bilazer, Radakovic, Mujakic, Hanousek, Tolga, Bekiroglu, Tasos, Pedrinho, Rodrigues and Ali.

 

Substitutes – Morutan, Bajic, Cem, Ali Kaan and Dokanovic

 

It was a similar story in the 2^nd half when I was resigned to a 0-0 score line ...........well, until the 70^th minute when the match suddenly burst into life   !!

 

Rodrigues made an astute pass from near the half way line to Bekiroglu who had surged forward beating the offside trap.     He coolly rounded the goalkeeper and stroked the ball into the gaping goal to much relief all round.

 

Ankaragucu was fired up after this goal and 4 minutes later Ali almost made it two, but his goal bound shot from just outside the box was well saved.

 

However, he wasn’t to be denied when he scored one minute later after the goalkeeper had parried a headed effort which he was first to react to and shoot into the net.     The Linesman’s flag was up for offside, which I thought was a hairline decision, so I wasn’t surprised when the referee was directed to VAR.      Goal given was the correct decision    !!!

 

Samsun made a late surge looking for a consolation goal, but their two shots on target didn’t give Bahadir any cause for concern.

 

Ankaragucu move into mid-table on the back of this win, but are still only 4 points above the relegation zone ..........and 6 points below the European places.     So, still all to play for with the season not even at the halfway stage yet   !

 

The next League match is on Sunday 5 November and should be an even more demanding encounter than last night’s match when Ankaragucu travel to play Istanbul Basaksehir.

 

Notwithstanding that Basaksehir is probably not the force they were over the past few seasons, they will still be a difficult nut to crack.    They currently sit in the relegation zone, but I’m sure that Emre Hoca will not underestimate them   !!

 

However, before that match, Ankaragucu will be at home on Wednesday against Malatya Arguvan of the 3^rd Division in the 3^rd Round of The Turkish Cup.

 

As always, watch this space for the outcome of both matches.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim