Sunday, April 14, 2024

ANKARAGUCU – UP FOR THE FIGHT !!!




 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

I think we are all agreed that there is no doubting Ankaragucu’s determination to avoid relegation, and that said, it was quite clear last night that the effort put-in by the team reaped their just reward.    Coach Emre Bey has the players fighting for every ball and the will to win is there for all to see.

 

Having gone a goal down early in the match, Ankaragucu fought back to deservedly claim all 3 points and put a little more distance between them and the relegation zone.

 

True enough, with 6 matches left to play, there is still a lot to do, but the performance last night was encouraging for the final run-in.

 

ANKARAGUCU           3                         Gaziantep            1

 

Team – Bahadir, Kitsiou, Radakovic, Mujakic, Kazimcan, Ali Kaan, Tolga, Morutan, Efkan, Bassogog and Ali Sowe

 

Substitutes – Pedrinho, Tasos, Alexis, Macheda and Renaldo

 

Ankaragucu received a wake-up call after only 7 minutes of the match when Gaziantep scored the opening goal in their first attack, and it was basically down to the defence failing to clear the ball from inside the 6 yard box.   The ball fell kindly to Jevtovic in the centre whose shot went in high centre with Bahadir static.

 

It was all Ankaragucu after that shock opener and they equalised after 24 minutes when Bassogog picked-up the ball in the Ankaragucu half and took off with Gaziantep players in his wake.    He ran straight into the Gaziantep box and slid the ball to Ali Sowe in support and he tapped in for an excellent goal.      Wrong   !!!       VAR was called into play and the goal ruled out for offside.    Marginal, but unfortunately correct   !

 

Ankaragucu continued to attack and were duly rewarded 6 minutes later with a slick piece of skill by Efkan.   He received a long pin-point pass in the centre, shrugged off a challenge and side-footed the ball inside the right post.

 

In the run-up to the half time whistle, Ankaragucu was denied by the woodwork on two occasions.   Firstly, Ali Sowe hit the bar with a header and then Ali Kaan hit the post with a great shot.

 

However, into the 2nd half, and the 2nd goal arrived at the half way point when Ali Sowe received a lay-off pass in the centre and he made no mistake.

 

3 minutes later and the icing on the cake when Efkan’s fierce shot from outside the box in the centre whizzed inside the left post.

 

An excellent team performance and all credit to all the players who rose to the occasion.

 

The focus now switches to next Friday when Ankaragucu travel to take on Besiktas in what will be a dress rehearsal for their Cup Semi Final matches.     However, thoughts of the Cup are sure to be put on the back burner in favour of league points   !!

 

As always, watch this space for the outcome.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

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