GENCLERBIRLIGI – SQUANDERING COSTLY !!!

 

 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

Gencler may live to regret not taking all the chances which were presented to them last night  by a poor Kecioren team who look out of their depth in this league   !

 

Gencler had the opportunity to kill the match off just before the final whistle but they sent a penalty kick over the bar which allowed Kecioren to share the points, which in all honesty, they never deserved on the balance of play.

 

GENCLERBIRLIGI             1                     Keciorengucu             1

 

Team – Orkun, Ugur, M. Cagiran, Nzaba, Yasin, Kemaloglu, Cek, Enes, Akabueze, Kayode and M. Yatabare

 

Substitutes – Wu, Ozturk, Erturk, Rodrigues and Karakullukcu

 

On the whole, it was a scrappy match and looked like heading for a 0-0 ‘yawn’ until Kayode woke me from my half slumber in the last 10 minutes of the match   !!

 

The 1^st half was a great big bore with, especially Kecioren, playing ..........let’s pass the ball back from the halfway line to the goalkeeper   !!     Also, twice in the 1^st half Kecioren defenders made sloppy back passes to their goalkeeper which were not punished by Gencler.   However, in the 2^nd half their 3^rd horrendous back pass was punished   !!

 

Akabueze almost opened the scoring at the beginning of the 2^nd half with a goal bound shot which was well saved by the Kecioren goalkeeper.    Then ...........the match resumed its tedious drift  until 10 minutes before the final whistle when it suddenly exploded into life ........and about time too   !!!

 

A Kecioren defender sent a ‘lazy’ back pass to his goalkeeper which was pounced on by Kayode who took the ball almost to the left goal line and then clipped a very acute angled shot past the goalkeeper and inside the far post for a classic predatory goal   !!

 

That was it, but no, there was still time for a salvage operation by Kecioren.    2 minutes to go and a Gencler defender needlessly clipped Ankaragucu ‘old boy’ Ariyibi’s ankle in the box when there was no apparent immediate danger.     Jurgen sent his shot down the centre with Orkun diving to his right.

 

That was it, but no, there was still time for Gencler to take all 3 points 4 minutes into time added on when they were awarded a penalty.     The offence occurred on the referee’s blind-side when Kayode was floored inside the box with a defender’s knee into his back.    The referee consulted VAR and a great chance for Gencler to put the match to bed.

 

Musa Cagiran took responsibility and sent his penalty kick a few inches over the bar to waste a golden opportunity   !!

 

As I said, this was a match which Gencler should have won, but on a positive note, they have now gone 7 league matches unbeaten and are still in the play-off zone and only 6 points behind 2^nd top Kocaelispor.

 

Next up is a visit to mid-table Erzurumspor next Sunday 3 December,

 

As always, watch this space for the outcome.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

Gaziantep 0-1 Ankaragucu - Match report!

 

Ankaragucu returned to the capital with all 3 points after a 1-0 win at Gaziantep and an unlikely hero in Alper Uludag. 

Team - Bahadir, Atakan, Uros, Mujakic, Alper, Ali Kaan, Efkan, Pedrinho, Morutan, Cephas, Ali Sowe

Subs - Rafal, Tasos, Kitsiou, Cem, Garry, Mert, Hanousek, Bajic, Macheda, Hayrullah

Gaziantep started brightly and created the first chance after 2 minutes when Gradel got in behind Atakan but dragged his shot across the face of goal. 

Efkan had a great chance to put Ankaragucu ahead on the 15th minute after great play from Morutan, but he put his shot just over the bar as Florin fumbled the cross into the box. 

Neither side created much as both lacked the quality in attack apart from Ali Sowe who was again showing how important a player he is for Ankaragucu. 

Cephas had a shot from the edge of the box just before half time but Florin easily saved in the Gaziantep goal.

Then 1 minute later came the opening goal. Great play from Ali Sowe and Morutan to set up Alper who from 25 yards blasted his shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net to put Ankaragucu in front. Great goal all around. 

Half Time - 0-1

Into the second half and the first chance came for Gaziantep through Markovic but Bahadir saved easily. 

A few minutes later Cephas cut inside and shot from outside the box but Florin made a good save . 

Efkan then had a shot from distance after brilliant play from Pedrinho but it went just past the post. He should have however played in Tasos who had made a good run. Tasos had another chance a few minutes later but she shot wide of the post.

Ali Sowe had a great chance in the last minute as he was put through on goal, he took a good first touch and then tried to lob Florin but the keeper made a good save.

Ankaragucu hung on for the 3 points and it will be even more satisfying for Emre Belezoglu with the team keeping a clean sheet. 

Next up is Besiktas at home next Sunday. A huge game for the club in front of a sold out Eryaman Stadium and the club have confirmed Besiktas fans will be allowed into the stadium which should make for a hostile, and entertaining night. 

THE 56th TSYD (SPORTSWRITERS ASSOCIATION) CUP !

 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

The TSYD Cup is normally held in August every year as a curtain-raiser to the new league season.    However, this year, with the Eryaman Stadium being renovated, and work being behind schedule, a revised date was decided to play the match during the International Break.

 

Ankaragucu won The TSYD Cup last night with 2 well taken goals in the 1^st half.      The 2^nd half was a non-event with both teams using lots of substitutes (I lost count of how many were used   !!!) which altered the rhythm of the match.    Also, the heavens opened up with a serious downpour which didn’t help matters   !!

 

Anyway, this is the first silverware won by Ankaragucu in ‘many moons’ and we should celebrate this unlikely event   !!!

 

With all due respect to Gencler, the suspect Ankaragucu defence wasn’t really tested last night, but no doubt it will be next Saturday when they return to league action in Gaziantep.

 

ANKARAGUCU             2                    Genclerbirligi               0

 

Team – Bahadir, Radakovic, Atakan, Mert, Alper, Cenk, Ali Kaan. Efkan, Sirac, Bajic and Renaldo

 

Ankaragucu almost opened the scoring in the 2^nd minute when Alper sent a long range bullet of a shot goal wards but Orkun made a great save which must have stung his hands   !

 

However, it was no surprise when the opening goal came 13 minutes later.    A free kick on the right was sent into the box which was headed in by Atakan who found space in the crowded box.

 

Ankaragucu looked comfortable with their lead and it was no surprise when they added a 2^nd goal 8 minutes later.      Good work by Sirac on the right when he sent a pass inside to Atakan who’s shot was parried by the goalkeeper straight to Efkan who made no mistake from close range.

 

Bahadir was only called into action once when he saved a goal bound shot on the half hour mark.  

 

Almost on the half time whistle and Renaldo had a great opportunity to add the 3^rd when he received a pass on the half way line.    He set off like a whippet with Gencler defenders frantically trying to keep up, but once inside the box his shot went narrowly past the post.

 

No serious action worthy of mention in the 2^nd half with Ankaragucu comfortable in possession and Gencler showing no threat up front.

 

The Man of the Match (nominated by the TSDY representative) was Atakan.    With a goal, an assist and a clean sheet in defence, it was an obvious choice   !

 

I should also mention the contribution of ‘new boy’ Sirac who gave the Gencler defence a few problems throughout the match.      We are sure to see more of him on a regular basis  !!

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

GENCLERBIRLIGI – PROMOTION STILL IN SIGHT ?!

 

 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

Gencler achieved a notable success in Adana last night to maintain their involvement in the promotion race.

 

They remain unbeaten in their last 6 league matches and currently occupy 4^th position in the league, only 5 points behind league leaders Eyupspor.    However, their position could change with most of the teams also challenging for promotion playing today and tomorrow.

 

I was unable to watch the match due to the Ankaragucu match having the same kick off time, so this will be a brief report   !

 

Adanaspor         0                GENCLERBIRLIGI            2

 

Team – Orkun, Cek, M. Cagiran, Babacan, Ugur, Yasin, Enes, Kemaloglu, Karakullukcu, Kayode and M. Yatabare

 

Substitutes – Wu, Erdal, Nzaba, Erturk and  Akabueze

 

Kayode scored both goals.    The 1^st early in the 1^st half and the 2^nd near the end of the match.

 

Orkun and the defence will no doubt have been kept busy with Adana having 62% possession and 7 shots on target as opposed to Gencler who had 3 shots on target   !

 

Next up for Gencler is the ‘Mini’Ankara Derby at home against Keciorengucu after the International Break.

 

However, prior to that Ankaragucu will play Genclerbirligi in the annual Ankara Sportswriters Cup next Saturday.    This match is normally played in August as the curtain raiser to the season, but due to the Eryaman Stadium being re-surfaced it had to be delayed this season.

 

As always, watch this space for the outcome.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

ANKARAGUCU – DEFICIENCIES RUTHLESSLY EXPOSED !!!

 

 

Greeting Kankas and Kankies.

 

Ankaragucu was clinically and professionally dismantled by an exceptional Antalyaspor team last night and, I stress, the score line didn’t flatter Antalyaspor.

 

Antalya dominated the match from start to finish, especially in the 1^st half, when they blew Ankaragucu away and it was surprising that they only went in 2 goals up at halftime.   Ankaragucu by contrast was a pale shadow of the team that promised so much since the arrival of Coach Emre Belozoglu and couldn’t even manage one shot on goal in the 1^st half far less involve the Antalya goalkeeper in the match   !!

 

For example, the 1^st half statistics speak volumes .........

 

Ankaragucu – 0 shots on goal

Antalya – 13 shots on goal with 6 on target

 

ANKARAGUCU              0                      Antalyaspor               4

 

Team – Rafat, Bilazer, Radakovic, Mujakic, Hanousek, Tolga, Pedrinho, Efkan, Tasos, Rodrigues and Ali

 

Substitutes – Atakan, Morutan, Renaldo, Ali Kaan and Macheda

 

It was no surprise when Antalya went ahead as early as the 7^th minute when Ankaragucu gave the ball away cheaply on the halfway line. The ball was swept forward to Larsson on the left and from just outside the box he sent his shot inside the right post.

 

7 minutes later it was almost 2 when a cross came in from the right and the glancing header from an attacker went narrowly past the post.

 

However, the 2^nd goal did arrive on the half hour mark when Pedrinho gave the ball away cheaply inside the Antalya half of the field.    The ball was played forward to Jehezkel who took off like a whippet, and in the process, outpaced two Ankaragucu defenders.     Inside the box he stopped, swivelled, and sent the ball in between Rafat and the two defenders.

 

Antalya had two further chances to find the 3^rd goal but in both instances Rafat made two excellent saves from goal bound shots.

 

Antalya started the 2^nd half in a similar vein as the 1^st half and almost found the 3^rd goal after 10 minutes when Mujakic was outmuscled by an attacker, but his goal bound shot was fortunately saved by Rafat with his legs and knees  !

 

20 minutes into the 2^nd half and Ankaragucu had their first shots on goal when Morutan and Macheda had efforts which both went past the post   !!

 

A few minutes later and the sword went in    !!!       It was a goal of simplicity.     A cross came in from the left and Buksa met it with 3 defenders around him transfixed and ‘watching in admiration’   !!!

 

10 minutes to go and Ankaragucu finally put 2 shots on target   !       Ali and Macheda both put weak shots in, but both straight at the goalkeeper which were easily saved.

 

5 minutes to go and Antalya put the final nail in   !!      A slack back pass by Mujakic was pounced on by Assomcalonga who had a clear run on goal and sent the ball inside the left post with Rafat left exposed.

 

Emre Bey is obviously going to have a major task on his hands this week to restore morale and prepare the team for another difficult match away to Gaziantep after the International Break.    However, prior to that Ankaragucu will play Genclerbirligi in the annual Ankara Sportswriters Cup next Saturday.    This match is normally played in August as the curtain raiser to the season, but due to the Eryaman Stadium being re-surfaced it had to be delayed this season.

 

As always, watch this space for the outcome.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

ANKARAGUCU – HONOURS SHARED !!

 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

It was a fast and furious match tonight in Istanbul, going from end-to-end with both teams in attacking mode.

 

In all honesty, the result was a fair reflection of play, but it could have been otherwise without Ankaragucu’s defensive frailties   !!!

 

It was the type of match which had me on the edge of my seat throughout and I was fully expecting further goals before the final whistle   !

 

Istanbul Basaksehir        3                   ANKARAGUCU          3

 

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

 

Substitutes – Renaldo, Morutan, Ali Kaan, Atakan and Macheda

 

What a way to start a match   !

 

Ankaragucu went ahead in the 1^st minute from a throw-in on the right to Ali inside the box.   He back-headed the ball to Rodrigues who played a return pass to Ali, and from an acute angle on the right he shot past a bewildered goalkeeper.

 

Basak’s equaliser 12 minutes later arose from a slack back-pass and was immediately latched onto by Piatek who surged forward on the left towards the goal line inside the box.     Bahadir came out to intercept but misjudged his timing and then back-tracked.   Piatek then sent his shot from an acute angle between Bahadir and Mujakic who had positioned himself at the wrong angle on the goal line.

 

5 minutes later and Ankaragucu was back in front.

 

Ali received a pass on the left and sent a pass inside to Pedrinho who was just outside the box.   Pedrinho let fly and the ball went whizzing in just inside the left post.

 

Then shortly after that Basak and Ankaragucu hit the woodwork within the space of two minutes of each other.

 

However, the 2^nd equaliser arrived approaching the half hour mark and it was all down to defensive blunders.

 

Firstly. Bahadir collided with Mujakic going for the same ball which then broke to an attacker who shot, but the ball was deflected into a melee of players.     Mujakic was too slow to hoof the ball to safety, but Piatek’s reactions were quicker and he shot in for a scrappy goal.    (Emre needs to show a replay of this incident in training this week to show how NOT to defend   !!!).

 

Approaching half time and Bahadir redeemed himself with a crucial save from a goal bound shot.

 

The 2^nd half was only 15 minutes old when Ankaragucu went into the lead for the 3^rd time.     There may well have been some good fortune to it when Tolga’s shot was deflected by a defender to loop over the goalkeeper’s head, but good work from Ali and Efkan to set Tolga up for the shot was quick thinking on their part  !

 

Could Ankaragucu hold on this time for all 3 points   ?       15 minutes to go and the answer was ........ NO   !!

 

A  Basak cross from the right was sent to the far post and somehow Bahadir and Bilazer contrived to let Figueiredo have a free header and in went the 3^rd equaliser.     (this is another replay which Emre should show next week   !!).      Also, I have to say that the sooner Kitsou is fit to resume playing the better   !!!

 

Ankaragucu had one last chance to win the match when Renaldo crossed to Morutan but he scuffed his shot well past when well placed to have done better.

 

Ankaragucu remain in mid-table but still only 4 points above the relegation zone.

 

Next up is a home match against Antalyaspor (1 point below Ankaragucu) next Friday KO 8pm.

 

As always, watch this space for the outcome.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

GENCLERBIRLIGI LET OFF THE HOOK !!

 

 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

This was an instantly forgettable match today with very little goalmouth action to entertain the sparse crowd at The Eryaman Stadium.  

 

Gencler remain in 5^th position in the league, well at least for the time being, with the teams slightly below them playing tomorrow,

 

GENCLERBIRLIGI            0                   Boluspor             0

 

Team – Orkun. Erturk. Babacan. M. Gagiran, Nzaba, Enes, Kemaloglu, Cek, R. B. Cagiran, Kayode and M. Yatabare

 

Substitutes – Akabueze, Wu, Erdal and Oltan

 

It was a tame 1^st half, but Bolu did have their chances to punish Gencler.    

 

Firstly, in the 5^th minute, from a Bolu free kick just outside the box, a goal bound shot was sent to the high centre of the goal but Orkun pulled off a good save to tip the ball over for a corner.

 

Half an hour later Bolu was unlucky not to score.    From a cross on the right into the 6 yard box, an attacker’s glancing header went just past the post.

 

There was no doubting Gencler’s willingness to attack, but they had no cutting edge in the final 3^rd to trouble the Bolu goalkeeper.

 

Gencler finally put a shot on target in the 75^th minute when a header was tipped over the bar for a corner.

 

12 minutes later Gencler almost ‘stole’ the match when Akabueze had a weak effort inside the 6 yard box which the goalkeeper smothered and the chance was lost.

 

Bolu had 2 further chances to take all 3 points but a shot was sent over the bar and Orkun saved a goal bound shot going inside the post which he managed to tip round the post for a corner.

 

Much work to be done in training this week for Gencler   !!!

 

Next up for Gencler is an away match against mid-table Adanaspor next Friday night.

 

As always, watch this space for the details.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

ANKARAGUCU EASE THEIR WAY INTO THE 4th ROUND OF THE TURKISH CUP ..............EVENTUALLY !!!

 

 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

Ankaragucu made hard work of it today, but eventually they put the match to bed halfway through the 2^nd half and progress into the 4^th Round.

 

Malatya Arguvan of The 3^rd Division didn’t disgrace themselves with their defence kept busy for the most part and their goalkeeper in inspirational form throughout, but he could not be faulted for both goals.

 

ANKARAGUCU             2                    Malatya Arguvan             0

 

Team – Rafat, Cem, Mert Cetin. Atakan, Andrej, Ali Kaan, Alper, Morutan, Renaldo, Federico Macheda and Bajic

 

Substitutes – Pedrinho, Tasos, Efkan, Bilazer and Astanakulov

 

It was mostly all one way traffic in the match with only poor finishing and good goalkeeping responsible for the match remaining scoreless at half time.

 

Bajic, Macheda and Renaldo in particular all had golden opportunities to score, but Renaldo should have opened the scoring just before halftime when put through one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but his curled shot hit the bar and was then cleared.

 

Into the 2^nd half and Ankaragucu huffed and puffed to find the elusive break through until it finally arrived after the introduction of Tasos who probably had his best match for Ankaragucu.

 

In the 63^rd minute, Renaldo was sent clear down the left and he passed the ball further down the wing to Tasos who, almost at the goal line, looked up, and sent an inch perfect cut-back to Morutan in the centre for him to fire into the roof of the net. 

 

12 minutes later and the goal of the match.    It was Tasos again the creator when he drove into the box on the left, played a one-two with Renaldo and passed into the centre for Macheda to stroke the ball in.

 

There was still time for Tasos to score the 3^rd, but it was correctly ruled out for offside.

 

So, Ankaragucu go into the hat for the 4^th Round draw.     In the meantime, it’s back to league business on Sunday.

 

As always, watch this space for the details.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim