10 Men Esentepe Hold League Leaders
Saturday 31 October 2015
News report from Rich’s Sport………
By Graham Brown and Richard Beale…….
Result : Esentepe KKSK 0 Girne Halk Evi 0.
Battling Esentepe forced to play this match with 10 men after Goalkeeper Tuğrul was sent off in the 10th minute, produced one of their best ever displays and to be honest were unlucky not to take all 3 points. Unbeaten League leaders, Girne Halk Evi (GHE), arrived at Esentepe with a maximum of 15 points from 5 matches played, but Esentepe made a mockery of their lowly League position and being a player short, in the end it was the League leaders relieved to hear the final whistle.
Details : Saturday 31 October 2015- K. Pet League 1- Esentepe Erdal Barut Stadium.
Esentepe Colours; Red/white check shirts/black shorts/socks. Girne Halk Evi: Blue shirts/ white shorts/red socks : Weather : sunny.
Esentepe squad was down to the “bare bones”, with both Başak and Salih suspended for receiving red cards. Veteran defender Baris on loan from GHE, was ineligible to play. Coach Gokam Kim dropped Goalkeeper Serkan, who had made a few errors of late and played in goal Tuğrul. GHE Coached by Ex player and Coach Mehmet Kemancioğlu, (Metcha) included Ex Esentepe players Uüurcan Başayak and Ufuk Firat.
A large crowd both from Esentepe and Girne were attracted to the match on a pleasant warm and sunny afternoon.
After 09 mins : The game came to life when Esentepe lost Goalkeeper Tuğrul, red carded for allegedly handling the ball outside his area. A long punt up field saw Esentepe’s Berkan and GHE forward Özgür compete for a high bouncing ball, Özgür judged the ball better as it sailed over Berkan’s head, but Goalkeeper Tuğrul seeing the danger came racing outside the area, where he tried to clear the ball in front of Özgür. The ball appeared to have hit the keepers chest and shoulder, before the two players collided. But referee İhsan Payas produced a red card saying Tuğrul had handled the ball outside the area. Both Tuğrul and Esentepe players went wild, surrounding the referee and linesman. The crowd also were incensed trying to climb the fence, hurling abuse at the Officials. Tuğrul having spent most of his Goalkeeping life on the replacement bench, was inconsolable having spent just 9 minutes on the field. Reluctantly he left the field alongside Umar who was the Esentepe player to be sacrificed so that replacement keeper Serkan could come on. Umar understandably was just as angry as Tuğrul.
This seemed to be the catalyst that Esentepe needed, instead of GHE taking charge it was the home team that increased their tempo rattling the League Leaders.
After 25 mins : An Esentepe corner from the right was headed just over by Eser at the far post.
Esentepe were working furiously to retain position, mid fielders Vurkan and İlyas were dominating GHE in midfield.
In a rare GHE attack in the 44th minute they had the ball in the Esentepe net through Özgür, but he was given offside by the referee desperately trying to win friends with the Esentepe spectators.
Right on half time the game boiled over again, when Vurkan appeared to be brought down just inside the GHE area, but referee Ihsan surrounded by angry Esentepe players refused their appeals for a penalty. This again resulted in potential crowd trouble as a number of spectators went hurrying round the back of the ground, to confront the Officials as they made their way back to the changing rooms, these were pursued by the Police desperate to regain control. It looked like a scene out of the Keystone Cops! Thankfully during the interval peace appeared to have been restored. H-T ; 0-0.
The second half started again with Officials subjected to a tirade of abuse, but Esentepe players themselves were well up for the battle and came close to taking the lead shortly after the break.
After 48 mins : Kaan on the left, whipped over a great cross on the right, where Esentepe’s lone striker Eser out jumped Goalkeeper Burak at the far post, to send a header onto the underside of the crossbar, where it was cleared away by Uğurcan.
Esentepe continued to be on top when Vurkan let fly from 25 yards straight at Goalkeeper Burak.
Esentepe brought on Aziz Yildiz, who recently signed for the Club for his League debut in the 62nd minute for the tiring Kaan, who was suffering with cramp.
Eser up front for Esentepe who singularly was keeping the GHE defence at full stretch, almost created a goal out of nothing, he did well to retrieve a cross, passing to Burak who in turn spotted Vurkan’s run into the area, but when he received the ball the midfielder screwed his shot wide.
GHE were creating little, the feared strike force of Özgür and Şenol were well marshalled by the Esentepe defence and there were only a couple of long shots offered by the League leaders. Indeed Özgür who always scores against Esentepe, for whatever club he plays for, was taken off in the 82nd minute.
Esentepe brought on 16 year old Muhammed Ali Karal for his first taste of League football in the 86th minute for the hard working Burak.
Esentepe safely played out the remaining minutes of the match, and were still looking the fitter team.
SUMMING UP :
After watching Esentepe for nearly 10 years through highs and lows, this was a performance I would rate in the best 5 matches I have seen them play. To play GHE with 11 players and get a draw would have been a great achievement, but to play them with 10 men and deserve to win this match is unbelievable. A Cypriot team to play with heart and as a team, is very rare as they normally play as individuals, but the team gave everything for the cause.
All players upped their game, Nersin and Berkan in defence shackled GHE forwards, Vurkan and İlyas were immense in midfield. Eser being the lone striker upfront, who cannot train properly because of work commitments, was awesome upfront, holding up the ball well and causing a nuisance amongst the GHE defenders.
GHE Coach Mehmet (Methca), will be bitterly disappointed with his team’s display, after the sending off they appeared to go into their shells. Yes, they will be crowned champions at the end of the season, but they will remember that they were given one hell of a fright by Esentepe in this match.. For Esentepe in future matches, if they keep this level of performance, watch them climb the table.
*******
ESENTEPE TEAM 4-4-2, then 4-4-1, sub apps in brackets, marks out of 10) :
Tuğrul : Mahmut 8, Berkan 8, Nersin 9, Emek 7 : Umar (Serkan 10 mins 7 ), Vurkan 9, İLYAS 9.5,
Burak 8 (Muhammed 86 mins) : Kaan 7 (Aziz 62 mins), Eser 9 :
Esentepe replacements not used :
Tugay, Emrah, Eşref, Mustafa.
ESENTEPE LEAGUE SEASON 2015-16 :
26-09-15 : Gençlk Gücü A 2-2 Başak, Emek (pen)
03-10-15 : DENIZLI H 0-0
10-10-15 : Hamitköy A 2-2 Kaan, Eser
17-10-15 : KARŞIYAKA H 0-3
25-10-15 : Düzkaya A 1-2 Kaan
31-10-15 : GIRNE HALK EVI H 0-0
ESENTEPE LEAGUE APPEARANCES AND GOALS : (sub appearances in brackets).
Kaan 6 2goals, Emek 6 1g (pen), Mahmut 6, Nersin 6, Vurkan 6 : İlyas 5(1), Burak 5, Serkan 5(1) : Basak 4 1g, Salih 4, Umar 4(1), Berkan 4(2) : Eser 2(4) 1g :Emrah 1(3), Mehmet 1(3), Tuğrul 1 : Aras ((1), Baris (1), Aziz (1), Muhamed (1) :
RESULT: ESENTEPE UNDER 19 TEAM :
ESENTEPE KKSK 2 GIRNE HALK EVI 2
The youngsters scored 2 first half goals through ABDULLAH ŞENGUN (11 mins), and EMRE SOYTÜRK (38 MINS), but GHE stormed back in the second half to score twice.
ESENTEPE NEXT MATCH :
Saturday 7 November- kick off 2-00pm – AWAY to GÖÇMENKÖY.
Venue : Atatürk Stadi, Lefkoşa,
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