Northern Cyprus Football

No Cup Upset At Esentepe

News report from Rich’s Sport………

By Graham Brown and Richard Beale…….

The first round of the Kıbrıs Kupası may have provided some shocks elsewhere, but at Esentepe it was business as usual, where the “Supa League” side overcame the League 1 side to proceed into the next round of the Cup.

Result; Esentepe KKSK 0 Küçük Kaymarklı TSK 2.

Saturday December 26th 2015: Kıbrıs Kupası Round 1 at the Esentepe Erdal Barut Stadium.

Weather : Overcast with occasional sun.

Esentepe colours : Red/white check shirts, white shorts/socks.

Kaymaklı colours : Green/white stripe shirts /black short/socks.

A crowd of around 80, including 8 Ex-pats were at this match, which would have given the Club a bonus of around 750 TL from the gate, less expenses (Medical staff, Officials etc), much needed revenue for the team.

Being a Cup match Esentepe Coach Gokan Kim, gave first starts of the season to 2 players that have spent the entire season on the replacement bench Eşref Şanlikaya and Tugay Alevkaya. The Coach also experimented in playing defender Emek upfront, a position he first started his career in.

Esentepe KKSK ve Kuçuk Kaymarkli TSK Pictures courtesy of Richard Beale 1 — **Esentepe KKSK ve Kuçuk Kaymarkli TSK Pictures courtesy of Richard Beale**

Esentepe started brightly and they had a great chance to open the scoring in the 2nd minute, following good work on the left by Kaan putting over a perfect cross, where striker Eser made a complete hash of his header, heading wide from a couple of yards out.

Tugay then set up a shooting chance for Emek who tried his luck with a shot from 25 yards out on the right, but his shot went just over the bar.

Kücük Kaymaklı took the lead in the 10th minute. There appeared little danger when Esentepe lost possession out on the left, a cross came in straight to Rumen who virtually walked the ball into the net, as Esentepe defence were nowhere to be seen.

K.Kaymaklı class was in evidence that players were more skilful and they appeared to have so much time on the ball. Esentepe were not disgracing themselves, they were putting in a good shift. In the 30th minute, following an Emek free kick from the left, İlyas tried a clever flick and the ball went wide of the post.

K.Kaymaklı replied with a fierce shot from Ali which went just wide. HALF-TIME : 0-1.

Esentepe KKSK ve Kuçuk Kaymarkli TSK Pictures courtesy of Richard Beale 2

Kaymaklı sealed the match with another easy goal in the 57th minute when they were awarded a free kick out on the far right. Mustafa took the kick, sending a cross over to the far post, where it was met by the head of Bahadir, who headed the ball back across goal for Taner to head past Serkan. Both players were left unmarked, a sloppy goal that Esentepe gave away. 0-2.

After that goal, K.Kaymaklı played within themselves, Esentepe continued to hustle and bustle but could only create half chances.

Esentepe lost the services of Kaan in the 68th Esentepe KKSK ve Kuçuk Kaymarkli TSK Pictures courtesy of Richard Beale (5) minute, when he went down following a challenge. After lengthy treatment on the field he was carried off on a stretcher with what appeared to be a thigh injury. He was later transported to Hospital for further treatment.

Substitute Umar put over a cross on the left just in front of fellow substitute Mehmet’s outstretched foot.

In the 85th minute following an Emek corner Barış climbed well but sent his header wide, FULL TIME : 0-2.

SUMMING UP :

No disgrace for Esentepe, they were outclassed as expected, but with limited resources put up a good fight. Both K.Kaymaklı goals were soft affairs given away. Esentepe chances were very limited and the only clear cut chance created was in the 2nd minute, which was missed. Lack of goalscoring and goal scoring options have haunted Esentepe all season and will probably continue to do so in the second half of the season. In fairness it’s hard to see what the Coach can do to remedy it.

Apart from going missing for the two goals, Esentepe defence dealt well with K.Kaymaklı attack. Kaan before his injury played well as did Emek firstly in attack and then in defence after switching back to his normal position.

ESENTEPE TEAM : (4-4-2), sub appearances in brackets marks out of 10.

Serkan 6 : Barış 6, Berkan 6, NERSIN 8, Eşref 6 ( Umar 58): Tugay 5, ( Emrah 61), İlyas 6, Mahmut 6, Kann 7 (Mehmet 68) : Eser 5, Emek 7.

Replacement not used :

Kürşat (gk), Salih, Fehmi, Asil.

KIBRIS KUPASI :

There were 16 ties played yesterday, most results went as planned, but there were some shocks namely. :

Bostanci Bağil 0 Yalova 1, a Local derby where League 1 side beat a Supa League team.

Turkmenköy- Değirmenlik . Turkmenköy from League 2 beat Supa League side Değirmenlik 6-5 on penalties.

Gönyeli 4 Girne Halk Evi 2 : Bottom from one League 1 side Gönyeli beat the League 1 leaders.

The Football season closes now during the winter and recommences probably the weekend 30/31 January, when Esentepe will be at home to Gençlik Gücü. In between then the Club will play some friendly matches, of which I will keep you informed.