Northern Cyprus Football

93rd Minute Equaliser Gives Deserved Point For Battling Esentepe.

News report from Rich’s Sport………

By Graham Brown and Richard Beale…….

Esentepe after being completely outplayed for the first half and being 2 goals down after only 20 minutes, ditched Plan A, then Plan B, and finally found plan C worked to come back and finally come away with a deserved point.

Result : Denizli SK 2 Esentepe KKSK 2.

Sunday February 14th 2016; K-Pet League 1 @ Denizli Stadi.

Denizli Colours ; All white with blue trimmings.

Esentepe colours ; Red shits, Black shorts/socks.

Weather : Dry, cloudy, warm occasional sun.

Esentepe Coach Gokan Kim, whose birthday was today, (and also Emre Mutlu who turned 16 today) again had to contend with many numerous injuries and suspensions, limiting his hand at selection. Emek, after being red carded last match was missing, was replaced by Eşref making his first start of the season. Striker Eser Kaan was in Turkey getting married and was replaced by Emrah the club’s only only recognised striker left.

Despite the long distance from Esentepe, the team was supported by quite a few locals who made the 1.hr 45 minute journey from Esentepe.

On a warm and balmy afternoon Denizli started the first half, the more dangerous team. After 6 minutes Kemal bundled past Nersin, and brought a smart save from goalkeeper Tugrul at his near post.

Denizli which contained many players well over 6ft tall should have taken the lead after 8 minutes following a corner from Yilmaz both Ahmet and Sezer were left unmarked, and Ahmet headed over when he should have done better.

From an Esentepe corner which was cleared, Denizli broke quickly through Mustafa Tahsildaroğlu (the longest surname in football), on the left and he whipped in a low cross from the the left, which goalkeeper Tuğrul could only weakly palm onto Sezer who easily scored after only 20 minutes.1-0

Denizli made it 2-0 after 23 minutes, when Barış allowed a cross from the left, to be flicked on by a Denizli forward for Yilmaz to score at the far post. Esentepe were looking very down at this stage and I was fearing the worst for Esentepe as Denizli looked a good team. Gokan Kim, made an early substitution sending on Muhammed Ali Karal, in place of the unlucky Eşref who had waited half a season on the bench for a game after 30 minutes.

Esentepe attack was really non existent as Deniliz defence processing two defenders well over 6 ft 2 inches, easily contained Esentepe’s rare and sporadic attacks.

However Esentepe at last put together a threat, when following a Baris throw in, Esentepe’s Captain Berkan put in a volley which was palmed away by the Denizli keeper, Adnan. The ball came in again from the left, where Mehmet got an outstretch foot to it, but Adnan easily saved his effort.

Tuğrul the Esentepe goalkeeper was in action after 38 minutes palming over a 30 yard free kick taken by Ahmet Hatay.

After 35 minutes Esentepe made a second tactical substitution with 16 year old Emre Soytürk replacing birthday boy Emre Mutlu (Plan B). Esentepe made a number of changes to their defence lining up with a back 4 of Barış, Salih, Berkan and Nersin.  I said to myself at Half time 2-0 down, it will be a damaged limitation exercise in the second half, however I was wrong. Half time 2-0.

Plan C was introduced as Esentepe started the half brightly, and their early pressure paid off. After 50 minutes, Umar on the right cut inside and passed to Mehmet who seemed to take an age to take control of the ball, but he managed to find NERSIN wide on the left, the Esentepe defender took aim and fired a 25 yard screamer (don’t we all like a screamer!) from 25 yards, giving  goalkeeper Adnan no chance, a very rare goal from Nersin but well worth waiting for. Score 2-1

Esentepe were enjoying a good % of possession as they strove manfully in search of the equaliser. Denizli seemed to have taken their foot off the pedal, but they nearly scored again after 59 minutes, when following a corner from the right, the ball was headed across goal at the far post by Eral, to Ahmet who had a header scrambled away by two Esentepe defenders.

Esentepe were showing some fine spirit, led in midfield by youngsters Mahmut and substitute Muhammed, and had more of the possession, but not the chances. Esentepe made a 3rd substitution sending on Arif for his first ever senior team debut in place of Mehmet after 85 minutes.

With the clock showing 3 minutes of injury time, Esentepe won a free kick just outside their own goal area Salih whacked the ball up field, finding EMRAH who I expected to lose control of the ball. However the lone striker for Esentepe, had endured a frustrating afternoon, shackled by 2 giant defenders, turned well and fired in a shot past Adnan to give Esentepe a deserved point right on the final whistle.

SUMMING UP : Who said I like a plan when it works? Well Gokan Kim on his birthday certainly in the end found the right Plan that worked in the end. A tale of two halves Esentepe driven on by youngsters Mahmut and Muhammed, superbly supported by Umar played with great heart and thoroughly deserved the point against a Denizli side who looked pie hot in the first half. Nersin’s magnificent strike was the catalyst that got Esentepe going and the team showed guts and determination to gain a valuable point that may prove to be vital at the end of the season. Umar for me was Esentepe’s best player, one of the few players that can hold onto the ball and beat players, I thought he played with fire in his belly.

Esentepe Team ; (4-4-1-1, subs in brackets, marks out of 10)

Tugrul 6 (gk) 6 : Barış 6, Nersin 7, Salih 6, Eşref 4 (Muhammed 30 min 7) : UMAR 8, Mahmut 7, Berkan 6, Emre Mutlu 4 (Emre Soytürk 6 35 mins ) : Mehmet 5 (Arif 85 min,) Emrah 6.

Esentepe subs not used :

Serkan (gk), Tugay

K-PET LEAGUE TABLE BOTTOM HALF:

Position Points

8 : Düzkaya 22

9: Hamitköy 18

10:ESENTEPE 17

11:Baf Ülkü Yurdu 15

12:Görneç 13

13:Gönyeli 12 Relegation place

14:Lapta 4 “ “

ESENTEPE LEAGUE SEASON 2015-16.

26-09-15 : Gençlik Gücü A2-2 Başak, Emek (pen)

03-10-15 : DENIZLI H0-0

10-10-15 : Hamitköy A2-2 Kaan, Eser

17-10-15: KARŞIYAKA H0-3

25-10-15 : Düzkaya A1-2 Kaan

31-10-15 : GIRNE HALK EVI H0-0

07-11-15 : Göçmenköy A1-2 Eser

14-11-15 : GÖRNEÇ H3-2 Firat og, Eser, Emrah

21-11-15 : Gönyeli A1-2 Emek (pen)

28-11-15 : LAPTA H 2-1 Umar, Kaan

06-12-15 : Yalova A 3-1 Basak, Burak, Kaan

12-12-15 : Baf Ülkü Yurdu A 1-0 Eser

20-12-15 : DUMLUPINAR H 0-1

26-12-15 : KÜÇÜK KAYMAKLI H 0-2

(Kibris Cup)

2016

06-02-16 ; GENÇLIK GÜCÜ H 0-2

14-02-16 : Denizli A 2-2 Nersin, Emrah

LEAGUE APPEARANCES (sub appearances in brackets, maximum 15 matches)

14 : Emek. Mahmut, Nersin : 12 : Burak, Kaan, Umar (2), Berkan (2) : 11: İlyas (1) : 10 : Serkan (2),: 9: Eser (5) : 8 : Vurkan, Salih (3), : 7 : Barış (2), Başak (3) : 5: Tuğrul : 3 : Mehmet (6), Emrah (8) :2 : Emre Mutlu : 1: Emre Soytürk )(1) , Eşref: 0 : Muhammed (7), Aziz (2), Tugay (1), Aras (1), Arif (1).

LEAGUE GOALS ;

4 : Kaan, Eser 2: Emek (2 pen), Başak, Emrah : 1: Umar, Burak, Nersin plus 1 own goal = 18.

RESULT UNDER 19 TEAM :

DENIZLI SK 2 ESENTEPE KKSK 1

A very very young Esentepe team, did well to hold the score to 2-1. Esentepe equalised in the 83rd minute with a goal by Ali Soytürk, but Denizli scored the winner in the 89th minute

ESENTEPE NEXT MATCH :

Sunday February 21st : kick off 2-00pm : Venue : Esentepe Erdal Barut Stadium.

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