Northern Cyprus Football – Even Stevens At Girne.

News report from Rich’s Sport………

By Graham Brown and Richard Beale…….

Even Stevens At Girne.

On Sunday 13th March, Esentepe came away with a useful point, but probably have felt they should have taken all 3 points.

Result : Girne Halk Evi 1 Esentepe KKSK 1 Sunday March 13th 2016 : K-Pet League 1 @ Girne 20 Temmuz Stadi.

Weather : Dry and sunny.

Girne Halk Evi colours : Red shirts, Red shorts and socks with a black trim.

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

With Girne Halk Evi (GHE) being managed by ex Esentepe coach Mehmet C. Kemancioğlu (Metcha), there was a lot of local interest and a good following came from Esentepe outnumbering the home supporters. Esentepe coach Gokan Kim made 3 changes from last weeks defeat against Düzkaya. Captain Berkan returned after suspension in place of young Tuğrulsan. Also returning after lengthy injuries, Başak and İlyas, replacing the unavailable Eser and Barış. Esentepe lined up in a 4-4-1-1 formation with Başak playing just behind lone striker Emrah.

Esentepe created a chance in the 12th minute, when Mahmut now playing in his usual full back position, overlapped on the right and sent a long deep cross, which caused an anxious moment for goalkeeper Burak, who was back pedalling before the ball clipped the top of the crossbar and went over. Esentepe had settled well and pressed forward in the 17th minute the overlapping Emek sent over a long cross to the far post, which was headed just wide by the diving Emrah, but the linesman had flagged for offside.

In the 28th minute GHE lost the ball in midfield where İlyas sent Emek away down the left again and his deep cross was met by Mehmet whose shot hit his own player Başak and deflected for a goal kick. Esentepe certainly had the better of the opening 45 minutes and GHE were playing like a team who had lost 4 of their last 5 games. Their confidence was low and body language poor. H-T : 0-0 During the break the GHE coach made a double substitution taking off Salahi and Sami, and replacing them with Erkan and Osman.

The changes seemed to have made a difference and at last GHE started to play like a team that had led League 1 for the first 13 matches of the season. In the 65th minute following a free kick taken by Senol, Osman headed over the bar. Esentepe were now penned inside their own half and were relying on breakaways from one of those led again by Mahmut finding Emrah who shot over the bar.

Esentepe took the lead in the 70th minute through a harsh penalty given by referee İhsan Payas, after Umar went down after being challenged by Talip and Tufan. Despite strong GHE protests a penalty was given, and even though goalkeeper Burak dived the correct way to his right, he could not prevent EMEK from scoring from the spot. 0-1. Unfortunately the lead only lasted 9 minutes when GHE equalised from a good move started in midfield Hasan passing to Özgür who slipped the ball through to Hüseyin Sarro as Esentepe keeper Tuğrul came out, the experienced striker calmly slotted the ball home. Score 1-1.

Esentepe, in the 88th minute had strong appeals for a second penalty turned down, when Umar put in a through ball where goalkeeper Burak appeared to bring down Basak who dived to the ground. Maybe the dive was too convincing to make referee Ihsan award a penalty. FULL TIME score : 1-1.

Summing Up : A point away against a side who are 4th in the league, would in normal circumstances be very satisfying. I think that the Esentepe coach would be little unhappy not to come away with all 3 points. Esentepe for 60 minutes of the game controlled the match and created the better chances. GHE were a pale shadow of themselves and normally their stars Özgür and Şenol in the past would have run wild against them. Not so this match they were well contained by a strong defence, which again protected Tugrul in goal who had little to do. İlyas’ return to midfield shows what we had been missing and he was ably supported by young Muhammed.

Esentepe Team : (4-4-1-1, replacements in brackets, marks out of 10.) Tuğrul (gk) 6 : Mahmut 7, Nersin 7, BERKAN 8, Emek 7 : Umar 6, İlyas 7, Muhammed 6, Mehmet 6 (Emre Mutlu 85 mins) : Başak 6 : Emrah 6 (Emre Soytürk 70 mins). Esentepe subs not used : Sergen (gk), Tugay, Eşref, Asil Arif.

K-Pet League 1 table (bottom half) Place points 08 Göcmenköy 26 09 ESENTEPE 24 10 Baf Ülkü Yurdu 23 11 Hamitköy 19 12 Gönyeli 18 13 Görnecç 17 Relegation place 14 Lapta 8 Relegation place

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 Başak, 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 21-02-16 : HAMİTKÖY H 2-1 Mehmet Eser 27-02-16 : Karşıyaka A 1-0 Başak 05-03-16 : DÜZKAYA H 1-3 Emek(pen) 13-03-16 : Girne Halk Evi A 1-1 Emek(pen)

Esentepe League Appearances: (replacements in brackets max 19 matches) 18 : Emek, Nersin, Mahmut : 16 : Umar (2), : 15: Berkan (2) : 12 : Eser (5), İlyas (2), Burak, Kaan : 10: Barış (2), Serkan (2) : 9: Tuğrul : 8 : Başak (5), Salih (3), Vurkan : 7 : Mehmet (6) Emrah (8) : 4: Muhammed (7) : 2 :Emre Mutlu (2) : 1: Emre Soytürk (5), Eşref (2), Tuğrulsan : 0 appearances : Aziz (2), Aras (1), Asil Arif ((1), Tugay (1), . League Goals : 5 : Eser : 4 : Kaan, Emek (4 pens) : 3 : Başak : 2: Emrah : 1: Umar, Burak, Nersin, Mehmet plus 1 own goal = 23.

Esentepe Young Team Result: Girne Halk Evi 1 Esentepe KKSK 2 A long awaited win for the youngsters, who were a goal down just after half time, but equalised from a header from ABDULLAH ŞENGÜN and EGE CAN AÇIKPORTAKALI scored the winner in the 79th minute. The only dampener on the win was the sending off of Tuürulsan (who made his first team debut last week) in the 90th minute.

Esentepe Next Match.

Saturday March 19th HOME: K.O: 2-30pm v GOÇMENKÖY at Esentepe Erdal Barut Stadium.

To read more from Esentepe Community and see the latest match video, please click here