Kasimpasa 0-1 Ankaragücü match report!

Ankaragücü traveller back to the Capital last night with all 3 points after another upset and a 1-0 victory at Kasimpasa. Again it was an excellent defensive performance from Ankaragücü who also had a bit of luck on their side, but it’s 3 points and the team won’t care how they win.

Team - Korcan, Kitsiou, Kulusic, Pazdan, Pinto, Sedat, Moke, Canteros, Ilhan, Aydin, Orgill

Subs - Furkan, Cebrail, Yalcin, Mehmet, Ahmet, Faty, Alihan, Hasan, Ender, Zaur

Thiago Pinto came in for his first start of the season replacing Mehmet Sak who would have to make do with a place on the bench.

It was a frantic start to the game with Kasimpasa hitting the crossbar after only 2 minutes when Yusuf Erdogan saw his deflected shot off Pazdan come back off the bar. Ankaragücü went straight up the other end and from a free kick Ilhan saw his header saved by Ozturk.

A minute later Dever Orgill had a go from 35 yards but his shot was weak and went well wide of the post.

Korcan Celikay has been instrumental in Ankaragücü good start to the season and had another good game last night. He made a great save from point blank range on the 18th minute to keep the scores even. Five minutes later Ankaragücü took the lead, a great ball into the box from Tito Canteros for Ilhan who tried to head the ball back across goal, but it looped high over Ozturk into the back of the net to send the travelling fans wild.

Special praise has to go to Ilhan, who doesn’t have the quality required at this level, but played with broken ribs last night and again showed his commitment to the team.

From then on it was all Kasimpasa. Mustafa Pektemek headed over from 5 yards before Korcan made a brilliant double save. Yusuf Erdogan, Hajradinovic and Khallili all had chances before half time but Couldn’t find a way past Korcan.

Into the 2nd half and it was much of the same. Aytac Kara saw his show saved by Korcan on the 49th minute.  Five minutes later Ilhan had a chance to double his tally but Ozturk managed to clear the ball for a corner.

On the 64h minute Hajradinovic had another shot from distance but Korcan saved again. Then on the 78th minute it looked like Kasimpasa luck was about to change, but Mame Thiam saw his headed effort come back off the bar.

Ilhan had another great chance when he was put through on goal by Canteros but he was too slow and allowed the defender to get back and clear. Korcan had 1 more great save before the game finished and the Ankaragücü fans celebrated at the end with the team.

A massive win for Ankaragücü and now let’s hope Mehmet Yiginer can lift the transfer ban as with a few additions in midfield and attack this Ankaragücü team could fight for Europe.

Kasimpasa vs Ankaragucu match preview!

Another game is approaching us tomorrow night, and Ankaragucu will again go into the match with the board having failed to lift the transfer ban. As we approach the 2nd of September deadline, it is looking unlikely that the ban will be lifted which will mean almost certain relegation for the club.

With each passing day, the club are missing out on players they have spoken to about joining the club to other teams. Umar Aminu from Osmanlispor last night agreed a move to Rizespor, and was believed to be a key target for Ankaragucu.

Even if the ban is lifted on the last day, what caliber of player will Ankaragucu be left with? What decent player will have waited all this time and turned down offers from other clubs with no guarantee of signing with Ankaragucu?

Adama Traore and Kevin Bemanga are still training with the club and will almost certainly sign if the ban is lifted, but its looking like the club are missing out on other targets due to this inept management of the club.

We saw last weekend the effect of managements pricing strategy for match tickets and season tickets. Only 6,500 fans turned up for the Kayserispor match despite the capacity being 20,000. Had the pricing structure being set at an affordable amount there would have been a minimum of 15,000 at the game. Having done some sums, the club would have almost certainly have lost money with their stubbornness.

Ankaragucu travel to Kasimpasa tomorrow night and will again be the underdogs as they try and defy the odds with another upset. The team were so close to winning against Kayserispor last week but for a 93rd minute equaliser from Umut Bulut and also some dubious refereeing decisions again.

Kasimpasa have had a mixed start to the season and are still searching for their first win. A good 1-1 draw at home to Trabzonspor was followed up with a 4-1 defeat at Antalyaspor. The Istanbul side have lost some of their key players from last season including Mbaye Diagne who went to Galatasaray last year, while Trezeguet moved to Aston Villa for £9 Million in the Summer.

Yusuf Erdogan and Aytac Kara have joined Kasimpasa on free transfers from Bursaspor, while Mustafa Pektemek has signed from Besiktas. Foreign signings Mame Thiam and Jorge Fernandes have also joined the club.

One the the key players for Kasimpasa is Bengali Fode Koita, but unfortunately for Kasimpasa he has picked up another injury and looks like he will miss out. Koita is a forward player who plays out wide and on his day is a handful for any defender. He has been plagued by injuries over the last 2 years and it looks like he may be out for a spell again.

The success for Ankaragucu over their opening 2 games has been the defence. Michal Pazdan in particular has been outstanding and just won a call up to the Poland national team. He has formed an excellent partnership with Croatian Ante Kulusic. Thiago Pinto will almost certainly come back into the starting line up with Mehmet Sak putting in another poor performance last week.

The problem for Ankaragucu in attack is that even though Ilhan Parlak and Aydin Karabulut have been very poor and ineffective, the team dont have other options unless they look at the youth players. Berke Gurbuz is one of the most promising young players but the manager doesnt think he is ready physically. Hasan Kaya came on last weekend and done ok so there might be a place in the starting line up for him.

Its going to take another huge effort for Ankaragucu and again there will be a large following of Ankaragucu fans. Lets hope the team can send them back to the Capital with a positive result. 

GENCLERBIRLIGI SEE RED IN GAZIANTEP !!

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

Genclerbirligi continued their inauspicious return to the Super League with a red mist in Gaziantep last night.

Gazisehir       4          Genclerbirligi      1

Team – Diallo, Ahmet O, Berat, Nadir, Baiano, Sessegnon, Sio, Toure, Candeias, Arda and Polomat

Substitutes – Soner and Halil

It only took 27 minutes into the match for Ahmet to see red, and then 4 minutes later Gazi opened the floodgates with their 1^st goal by Kayode.   

Polomat was next to see red on 38 minutes and from the resultant penalty, Kayode made it 2.

One can only imagine what was said in the Gencler dressing room at half time, however, not that it mattered when Guray made it 3 shortly after the re-start.

Berat pulled a goal back for Gencler after 70 minutes, but any hope of a miracle come-back disappeared a few minutes later when Oguz added a 4^th and Gencler was swept away in a red mist !

Gencler, Basaksehir and Goztepe prop up the league without any points, but Gencler have a golden opportunity to put their season back on track next Sunday when they play host to Basaksehir.

Haydi Gencler.    Time to do it !

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

ANKARAGUCU UNIMPRESSIVE WITH ANOTHER FORTUNATE POINT !

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

Lots of long faces in Ankara with only 2 (lucky) points from 2 matches and a transfer ban still in force due to financial reasons.

Also, only about 6,000 in the 20,000 Capacity Eryman Stadium last night due to the hiking up of the price of season tickets.

Also, Also, Ankaragucu is still without a bona fide Coach and seemingly on the road to nowhere, unless divine intervention arrives soon !

Also, Also, Also, the defence is still carrying the team with the back 4 and Korcan working their socks off.   Praise too for Orgill (The Lone Ranger) who chases everything and but for his goals last season and last night, Ankaragucu would be in dire straits and goal-less !!!

The kankas, Maniac Kanka Harun, Apple Kanka Erman and yours truly, met up in The Alerta Bar and optimism wasn’t on the menu, but we are well used to that as long suffering Ankaragucu supporters !!

ANKARAGUCU     1            Kayserispor         1

Team – Korcan, Kitsiou, Kulusic, Pazdan Mehmet, Moke, Sedat, Aydin, Canteros, Ilhan and Orgill

Substitutes – Pinto, Faty and Hasan

Ankaragucu started the match on the front foot and should have taken the lead in the 3^rd minute when there was some skilful one-twos in the box before Aydin shot weakly at the goalkeeper.

One minute later and it was Orgill with a chance, but with no support in the danger zone he tried his luck but fired over and wide.

Kayseri gradually came into the match and on the 15^th minute mark they had two goal scoring attempts saved by Korcan.   A wake-up call as if one was needed !

5 minutes later and Orgill scored an ‘offside goal’, but the annoying thing was that he wasn’t offside.    From a free kick outside the box on the right one of the Ankaragucu players was marginally offside when the ball was slung over, and the linesman quite rightly flagged.   The ball came off a Kayseri defender and Orgill pounced to score.   I understood Orgill’s frustration  !!!

More skill from Ankaragucu 7 minutes later with a fast flowing move down the left and Ilhan finished it off with a weak shot direct at the goalkeeper.

Kayseri at this point was looking dangerous and thankfully Pazdan took off from where he left last week with some timely interceptions to frustrate the Kayseri attacks.

Approaching half time and Aydin received a deserved yellow card for retaliation after dithering on the ball and being dispossessed.

5 minutes to go and Korcan to the rescue again when he tipped over a goal bound shot and then Aydin had a chance to make amends from a free kick in a dangerous position on the right, but he sent the ball sailing high over the bar and yet another wasted chance went begging !

Into time added on and a great pass from Canteros to Orgill who attempted a shot from a difficult angle instead of employing the cut-back.     There was just time for Korcan to save from another Kayseri fast breakaway and then it was half time.

Kayseri supporters may disagree, but going in all square was a fair reflection of the first half, but Ankaragucu was again guilty of giving the ball away cheaply and putting the defence and Korcan under pressure.

The 2^nd half got underway with Pinto replacing the injured Mehmet and Kayseri was continuing to look dangerous.    A shot came in from the left and went wizzing past.   Then from a corner a header went just past.

A few minutes later and Ankaragucu went into the lead against the run of play.   Ankaragucu won a free kick on the right and from the free kick taken by Canteros, Orgill headed in on the left to the top left with a great piece of opportunism.

It was almost the second 6 minutes later when a mistake in the Kayseri defence allowed Orgill a run at goal but his shot was at an angle and found the side netting.

Umut Bulut should have equalised for Kayseri when he found himself in space in the box but his shot went just over the bar.

15 minutes to go and Aydin again got caught dithering on the ball.   With players available for the pass he allowed himself to be dispossessed and Kayseri were able to mount another attack.

5 minutes later Korcan to the rescue again when he made an excellent save from a corner.

Aydin was eventually substituted with only 5 minutes to go and replaced by one of the youth team players, Hasan.

Ankaragucu was hanging on and well into time added on when a free kick was given to Kayseri on the left.  It was floated in and there was Umut Bulut to power in a header for the equaliser at the death.    Aaaaaaargh !!   However, as we all know from his time as an Ankaragucu striker, Umut is well named for his ‘bullet’ headers, and with that knowledge, he should have been shadowed and denied a heading opportunity !

Every match is a struggle for Ankaragucu these days and next weekend promises to be another backs against the wall affair away to Kasimpasa on Friday night.   Therefore, much work to be done midweek with the midfield players and sparce attackers.    Hopefully Orgill will receive more assistance next week !!!

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

Ankaragucu vs Kayserispor match preview!

Before we look ahead to this weekends home match with Kayserispor, there are a couple of bits of transfer news to bring you up to date with. As you know, Ankaragucu still have a transfer ban and it will unlikely be lifted in time to register any new players for this weekends match. The club are confident that it will be lifted before transfer deadline day which would give the team a much needed boost.

Adama Traore who was released by Goztepe and had spells with Basel and Vitoria Guiamaraes has been training with the squad for the last 4 weeks and will be offered a deal if the ban is removed. The 29 year old Left back has been capped 13 times for the Ivory Coast and can also play at center half and left midfield. Kevin Bemanga is another who has been training with the team, the 21 year old Frenchman has been playing in the 3rd tier in Spain and is also hoping to win a deal with the club.

Journalist Ertan Guler also today claimed that Aminu Umar and Emrah Bassan are both close to signing with the club. Umar is a winger from Osmanlispor who had a successful loan spell with Rizespor last year and would be an excellent signing for the club. Emrah is a midfielder who plays with Erzerumspor and previously Galatasaray.

Moving onto the weekends game, and Ankragucu will host Kayserispor at Eryaman stadium this Saturday night. The club today announced season ticket prices much to the anger of the Ankaragucu support as despite all the problems off field and no new transfers, the management have decided to introduce the most expensive season ticket prices. They range from 600 Lira in Gecekondu to 3000 Lira in VIP. A massive own goal by management as the stadium will likely now be half full at best with many fans boycotting due to price, and also against management.

Ankaragucu produced a fantastic performance last weekend in Konya where they gave everything and defended magnificently for 90 minutes. It will be a tough ask for the team to repeat that performance again as even the top teams would struggle to keep a clean sheet with that type of pressure on their goal for the full game.

Thiago Pinto may be available this weekend as he has another week of training under his belt and will be a big boost when he returns. The team at the moment picks itself for obvious reasons, but they need more from Aydin and Ilhan if they are to take anything from the game. Its hard to criticise anyone after last weekends performance, but Ilhan in particular gave the ball away too often and provided nothing for Orgill up top. Aydin was really disappointing with his final ball and flattered to deceive which he so often does despite his talent.

Orgill looked a frustrated figure up front on his own, and even when he had brief opportunities he was wasteful with his final ball and link up play. A lot of that can be down to the amount of defensive work he had to do off the ball.

Kayserispor are looking for their first win of the season too after a disappointing 1-0 defeat at home against Alanyaspor last weekend. They have had a big turnaround in players this summer with the likes of Chery, Deniz Turuc, Kana Biyik and Varela leaving, while former Ankaragucu player Djedje, Paulo Henrique, and Aymen Abdenour have joined the club.

Losing Deniz Turuc was a big blow for the club after he joined Galatasaray, but that allowed them to sign Bernard Mensah from Atletico Madrid and he will be their key player this season. Mensah has the ability to play at a higher level if he can stay fit and find consistency.

Ankaragucu duo Michal Pazdan and Korcan Celikay have been receiving praise all week after their performance against Konyaspor and they will again have to be at their best and will be key to any success for Ankaragucu against Kayserispor.

Lets hope for a positive result!

The Round Ball in Ankara would also like to send our condolences to Coskun Basak who is the Social Media guy for Ankaragucu. His father Ahmet has sadly passed away.

GENCLERBIRLIGI – NO WELCOME BACK TO THE SUPER LEAGUE !

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

Genclerbirligi was brought back down to earth after dominating the Championship League last season.   There was no welcome back to the Super League for them after a poor show last Friday night in Ankara.

GENCLERBIRLIGI       0           Rizespor         1

I didn’t watch the match, but Gencler fan, Orcan, did and his description of the match from a Gencler perspective was summed up in one word, ie, .........SHIT  !!

He also said that Gencler’s play was similar to that of 2 years ago when they were relegated from the Super League.   So, it is to be hoped that this was just a blip in their preparation for the long season ahead.

Gencler’s cause wasn’t helped by the fact that last season’s stalwart, Metin Cetin, has been sold to Roma.   Also, one of the new signings was stupidly red carded in the 1^st half on Friday !!

Next up is an away match next Monday 30 August at fellow newbies to the Super League, Gazisehir, and an opportunity to get the show back on the road !

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

Konyaspor 0-0 Ankaragücü match report!

Ankaragücü restorer some pride within the club tonight with a spirited performance in Konya that gave the team a share of the points in a 0-0 draw. I did say midweek in the match preview that we could sneak a 0-0 draw as our defence is the strongest part of the squad, while Konya struggle to score goals.

Team - Korcan, Kitsiou, Kulusic, Pazdan, Mehmet Sak, Moke, Sedat, Canteros, Aydin, Ilhan, Orgill

Subs - Belkovic, Yalcin, Alihan, Pinto, Faty, Ender, Cebrail, Ahmet, Hasan, Zaur

Before the game had even kicked off there was more controversy for Ankaragücü to deal with as caretaker manager Aykan Atik was refused permission to manage the team as he didn’t have the required coaching badges and license. This meant that sporting director Adnan Erkan took control. Never a dull moment with this club.

Ankaragücü started the game well for the first 10 minutes but Konya started to look dangerous down the right hand side with Ilhan and Mehmet caught out a few times. The first chance came after 14 minutes when Omer Ali Sahiner saw his header come back off the post much to the relief of the Ankaragücü support.

Six minutes later Milosevic played a nice one two on the edge of the box but shot straight at Korcan. It took until the 25th minute for Ankaragücü to get a shot on goal as Canteros played through Orgill but his shot went well wide.

On the 31st minute Skubic saw his shot well saved by Korcan, while Milosevic saw his effort go wide of the post a minute later.

Just before half time it looked like Konya were about to take the lead but for an outstanding challenge in the box from Polish International Michal Pazdan. He really had a terrific game and was the best player on the park.

Ankaragücü did have a shout for a penalty in the first half but the referee didn’t even look at VAR. It certainly could have been given. 

Half Time 

Ankaragücü had the first chance of the 2nd half as Aydin saw his shot easily saved by former Ankaragücü keeper Serkan Kirintil. A couple of minutes later Milosevic had 2 Long distance efforts brilliantly saved by Korcan.

The best chance of the game for Ankaragücü came on the 84th minute as Canteros played a nice through ball for Orgill but the Jamaican shot just wide from a tight angle. It was a frustrating night for Orgill who didn’t have much service from the likes of Ilhan and Aydin and spent a lot of energy chasing the ball and tracking back.

Konyaspor had time for 1 more chance with 2 minutes remaining but another outstanding save from Korcan gave Ankaragücü a clean sheet and a share of the points. A terrific result and fighting performance from the team. Special mention must go to Michal Pazdan and Korcan Celikay who were both outstanding.

Hopefully the club can now lift the transfer ban and give the team the help required to go and have a successful season. 

Next up is Kayserispor at home next Saturday night!