Northern Cyprus Football – Eser Double Makes Esentepe Safe

News report from Rich’s Sport………

By Graham Brown and Richard Beale…….

Eser Double Makes Esentepe Safe

Two superbly taken first half goals from striker Eser Kan, enabled Esentepe to obtain the necessary points and retain their League 1 status for another season. The result however condemned bottom club Lapta to a second consecutive relegation. This was a game of two halves, Esentepe could have gone into the break with a 4-0 lead, in the second half Lapta made a spirited comeback, pulled one goal back but were unable to find two more goals to keep their slim survival chances alive.

Details : Result : LAPTA TBSK 1 ESENTEPE KKSK 2.

Date : Saturday April 9th 2016 : K-Pet League 1 : @ Lapta ŞHT Şevket Kadir Stadyum
Weather : Dry and very humid.
Lapta colours : All red with green trim on shirts.
Esentepe colours : Red/white checked shirts, white shorts/socks.

After playing badly for the last 3 matches, Esentepe Coach Gokan Kim rang the changes by leaving out goalkeeper Tuğrul and experienced players Başak and Umar. Mehmet was suspended and young Mahmut was injured. In came Serkan in goal, strikers Eser and Emrah, Burak in midfield and a rare outing for defender Eşref. A surprisingly large crowd were present on this sultry afternoon with the Lapta supporters being especially vocal.

Esentepe almost scored following a move direct from the kick off with Emrah’s shot being cleared off the line by Mehmet. In the 4th minute strikers Emrah and Eser combined well exchanging passes, before Emrah sent over a long cross where Eser sent in a bullet header, only to see it brilliantly tipped over the bar by keeper Emre at full stretch. The keeper almost became the villain when he made a poor goal kick, which was played back into Emrah who saw his shot deflected for a corner. Then young Muhammed tried his luck from 30 yards sending a fierce shot over the bar from 30 yards. Esentepe had started very brightly and had created more chances in the first 20 minutes than they had in their last 3 games.

Esentepe eventually took the lead in the 32nd minute, when Emrah did well to hold on to a clearance and pass the ball out to the left to Burak, whose low cross was brilliantly met first time on the volley by ESER to rifle the ball past Emre, giving the goalkeeper no chance. Score 0-1.

38th minutes it was 2-0, again it was Emrah holding the ball well and passing to Emre Soytürk whose low cross was controlled by ESER, who turned and side footed his shot past a diving Emre. For the second goal there was good work by Burak, who ran unselfishly towards goal taking a defender with him to give Eser the shooting opportunity. Score 0-2.

The only sour note of the half was Esentepe’s Gokan Kim being sent off, for what I understand he told the referee politely where to go. Gokan continued to Coach “behind bars” outside the Stadium, before he eventually climbed onto the scoreboard gantry where his voice could be better heard. Half time score 0-2.

As so often happens to teams who are ahead at the interval Esentepe appeared to relax and Lapta with nothing to lose came more and more into the match.

Esentepe suffered a cruel blow when 17 year old Muhammed fell awkwardly on his knee following a challenge, he was in quite a lot of pain and discomfort and was stretchered off. After lengthy treatment on the touchline, he managed to get to his feet and walk gingerly back to the bench, in the meantime he was replaced by Umar.

Lapta urged on by their noisy supporters were making a spirited fight of it and pulled a goal back in the 75th minute following a mistake by goalkeeper Serkan. The veteran recalled goalkeeper was having a sound match before then but as a long cross from the right by Beyhan came over he ran out of his goal to try to intercept the cross in front of Selçuk, missed the ball giving the Lapta player the easy opportunity of heading the ball in at the near post. Score 1-2.

There wasn’t too many scares for Esentepe as they saw the remaining 15 minutes out, and with other results coming in and going Esentepe’s way, their League 1 status was secured. FULL TIME SCORE ;1-2.

SUMMING UP : Bravo team, bravo Coach with 4 of the teams major stars being transferred and losing key midfielder Vurkan for most of the season a great achievement to remain in this division. With 3 matches yet to play, all against promotion seeking teams Esentepe can now relax and I know the Coach is anxious to give more youngsters first team opportunities. Saturday’s match the tactics were spot on, Eser and Emrah worked hard and well together it was Eser who got the headlines, but Emrah also played his part too. In midfield Ilyas was dominant and Muhammed up to his injury put in another strong performance. A word of praise for Lapta too, they may have been relegated, but they never threw in the towel and their time will come again and they will be back.

ESENTEPE TEAM : (4-4-2, replacements in brackets, marks out of 10. )
Serkan (gk) 5 : Eşref 5, Nersin 6, Berkan 6, Emek 5 (Barış 75 mins): Emre Soytürk 5, İlyas 7, Muhammed 7 (Umar 60 mins) , Burak 7 : Emrah 7 (Başak 70 mins), ESER 8.

Esentepe replacements not used : Tuğrul (gk), Tuğrulsan, Tugay, Emre Mutlu.

ESENTEPE MAN OF THE MATCH : ESER – scored 2 fine goals but also worked hard upfront and tracked back as well.
K-PET LEAGUE 1 (lower half)
Pos Pts Goal difference
08/ Göçmenköy 30 -6
09/ ESENTEPE 29 -5 safe !
10/ Karşiyaka 28 -12
11 Gönyeli 27 -31
12/ Hamitköy 21 -6 Relegation play off place
13/ Görneç 21 -17 Automatic relegation place
14/ Lapta 11 -31 Relegated.

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)
19-03-16 : GÖÇMENKÖY H 0-0
26-.3-16 : Görneç A 1-1 İlyas
03-04-16 GONYELI H 1-3 Emek (pen)
09-04-16 Lapta A 2-1 Eser 2

RESULT : ESENTEPE YOUNG TEAM.
LAPTA TBSK 1 ESENTEPE KKSK 2.
Same result as the 1st team and again a striker scoring 2 goals this time for Esentepe HURKAN GÖRNEÇLI scoring in the 45th and 50 minute after Lapta had taken an early lead. Like the 1st team also Esentepe youngsters are in 9th place in the league.