By Richard Beale……
Result : GAÜ ÇETİNKAYA TSK 4 ESENTEPE KKSK 0.
Thursday 2 February 2017 : Koopbank Kıbrıs Kupası Round 1 : Lefkoşa Atatürk Stadium.
GAÜ Çetınkaya TSB- v – Esentepe KKSK
As expected Esentepe’s Cup hopes were dashed in the opening round as they were comprehensively beaten by Supa League outfit Çetinkaya who should have won at least 8-0. There was to be no fairy tale dream, no giant cup killer act, no romance as the Kıbrıs Cup is an entirely different affair than the English FA Cup. This is Cyprus as we know, and things are done differently here than the rest of the world. The 16 Supa League teams are automatically drawn against 16 League 1 teams. In other words no Supa League or League 1 teams can play each other in the opening round. Suffice to say everything went to form with 14 League 1 teams (Esentepe included) being knocked out and only 2 League 1 teams Ozanköy and Aköva providing shocks. Çetinkaya currently lie in fourth place in the top division.
Both Esentepe and Çetinkaya took the opportunity of resting key players and giving some of the normally replacements and Under 19 players a rare run out. Çetinkaya included Ex-Esentepe midfield player Kağan Görneçli.
On a cold but sunny day the National Atatürk Stadium was looking in far better condition to when I last visited the Stadium over 1 year ago, with a noticeable improvement on the pitch where it was green and lush. Even the toilets had loo paper but as normal no hand towels to dry your hands. The capacity of this giant Stadium is 20,000, so with a crowd of around 100 they were lost as it resembled a “ghost” Stadium. With this being the only football match being played in North Cyprus today at least 7 photographers and reporters were at the ground. At least Esentepe would get recognition at last in the Local press. Normally it is only me “Jack Jones” taking pictures and writing a match report.
Çetinkaya dominated the match right from the start and Kağan showed his intentions by hitting the Esentepe crossbar with a rasping shot after only 3 minutes. Ahmet Can repeated that with a similar shot after 14 minutes. Muhammed put in a good effort for Esentepe after 16 minutes, bringing Çetinkaya keeper Siho into action.
Çentinkaya took the lead in the 20th minute through Esentepe “old boy” Kağan who easily slotted the ball home after a move involving Mustafa and Esin. 1-0.
Esin missed two absolute sitters in the 19th and identically in the 29th minute somehow managing to spoon over the bar two efforts from close range.
Çetinkaya’s dominance finally played dividends in the 36th minute when Esentepe’s new signing Şahin unfortunately diverted an Armond cross into his own net. 2-0. HALF TIME : 2-0.
Esentepe introduced forwards Tacettin and Eser during the break in place of Muhammed and Emre Mutlu.
Esentepe should have reduced the arrears in the 52nd minute in a rare attack, following a long ball from Reşat who found both Hürken and Eser, both looking offside unmarked, the ball went to Eser and with only the keeper to beat he screwed his shot wide.
Cetinkaya continued to dominate on many occasions and, fortunately for Esentepe, their striker Esin was having a nightmare match spurning easy chances. Eventually after a very frustrating afternoon he got on the goal sheet after 65 minutes, when despite Mahmut challenge he got in a shot which was deflected off the Esentepe player and over goalkeeper Tuğrul. 3-0.
75 minutes in was 4-0, following a Kağan corner, Zihne got a header in which was blocked on the line by Emre Soytürk, only for the ball to pop up for Ludgero Aires Cachicote Da Rocha (what a name) to head home. 4-0.
Kağan was unlucky not to score again this time with another rasping shot which cannoned off Tuğrul far post in the 87 minute.
89th minute Eser had a half chance for Esentepe shooting wide by this time Esentepe had been reduced to 10 men with youngster Mustafa Günlü limping off following an earlier injury. FULL TIME : 4-0.
Left Picture Ex- Esentepe player Kağan ın actıon also “man of the match”
SUMMING UP : Not an unexpected result, it was damage limitation in the end. A useful work out for both teams a friendly/training match, that gave opportunities to squad players. Ex-Esentepe player Kağan had a fine match for Çetinkaya the “little maestro” was in fine form, pulling the strings in midfield, I wish he was back playing for us. Esentepe players Mahmut, Firat and Reşat were probably players who did reasonably well.
ESENTEPE TEAM : (4-5-1, replacements in brackets ).
Tuğrul (gk) : Muhammed (Eser 46) , Şahin, Firat, Mustafa : Emre Soytürk, Hüseyin, Emre Mutlu (Tacettin 46), Mahmut, Reşat : Hürkan (Derman 65).
Esentepe replacements not used : Kürsat (gk), Nersin, Emrah :
ESENTEPE NEXT MATCH
Sunday 5 February : HOME v Girne Halk Evi : ko 2-30pm : K-Pet League 1 Beyaz Group : Venue : Esentepe Erdal Barut Stadium. A very important match when 4th place Girne Halk Evi visit Esentepe a must win for the home team.
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FOOTBALL TEAM.
