Result : TATLISU HOSK 2 ESENTEPE KKSK 0.
Sunday 12 February 2017 : K-Pet League 1 Beyaz Group : Beylerbeyi Dr Ali Özsoy Stadium.
TATLISU HOSK – v – ESENTEPE KKSK
By Richard Beale………………..
Esentepe’s promotion hopes were given a severe dent when they were beaten by relegation threatened Tatlısu. It was a dismal performance by Esentepe, who since the recommencement from the winters break have failed to recapture their early season form.
Suspensions and injuries have not helped and again today 12th February there were a number of changes. Ali returned in goal after suspension in place of Tuğrul. With İlyas suspended, recent signing Şahin was given a first League start in central defence and Firat moving to right back. Emrah also made a first full start in place of Umar.
After a scrappy opening 20 minutes, with little goalmouth action, Esentepe’s Firat up with the attack tried an over head flick, which just cleared Tatlısu’s far post.
Tatlısu took the lead in the 35th minute following a Yullıan corner to the far post where Kemal put in a brave header despite Goalkeeper’s Ali fists to give Tatlısu the lead 1-0.
Esentepe in the first half looked disjointed and the long ball tactics to Tacettin and Emrah were easily dealt with by Tatlısu’s Beytullah and Mahmut. HALF TIME : 1-0
There seemed more purpose in Esentepe’s opening second half when young Emre Soytürk tried his luck from around 35 yards with a powerful shot that just cleared Tatlısu’s crossbar.
Esentepe replaced the ineffective Emrah after 55 minutes with Umar to provide more width to the attack. Firat, Esentepe’s tall and powerful defender, was pushed upfront alongside Tacettin. Then in the 66th minute midfielder Hüseyin was replaced by Muhammed leading to another reshuffling of the team.
Firat volleyed just over the bar following a good cross from Umar, as Esentepe at last were showing some urgency to save the game. Coach Davut Kansu made his final gamble in the 77th minute bringing on young striker Hürkan, who had earlier played and scored in the Young Teams match before this one. He replaced Şahin. Esentepe sometimes had 5 players up front and at times you would find 3 players competing for the same ball.
Then in the 83rd minute Tatlısu scored their second goal to snub out any Esentepe revival. Following a free kick from the left the ball fell to Sonalp at the near post whose shot was going wide until Mahmut slid the ball home at the far post 2-0.
With this second goal Esentepe supporters who came in their masses started leaving the Stadium resigned to the teams fate. I wish I could have joined them!
At last in the 88th minute Tatlısu’s goalkeeper Onurhan, who had a largely inactive afternoon, was at last brought into action producing a fine diving save from an Eser free kick.
Then finally in injury time Ex-Esentepe player Hasan Özgür nearly capped a fine display by winning the ball in midfield and sending in a 30 yard shot bringing a diving save from Ali. FULL TIME : 2-0
SUMMING UP:
A demoralising performance which left the team and supporters (including me) very depressed at the end. There is not many games I feel like this, even with a bad performance you usually can take out some positives, but there were none today to take. On the other hand Tatlısu can take great heart with the fight their team showed in their relegation battle. The burly Beytullah was outstanding dominating the Esentepe forwards. Hasan playing in a deep lying roll in front of his defence, against his old Club also was very effective.
Esentepe’s Coach was in a “Catch 22’ situation, things were not going right on the pitch, he made changes nothing wrong with that. But I think in doing so he disrupted the team by asking players to change playing positions too much during the match. Players seemed unsure where to play and the team completely lost any shape they had, whereas if he did’t make changes then he would be criticised anyway. Dammed if I do dammed if I am not. When the team is not performing the Coach cannot win either way !.
The only good thing is that Lapta had a bye this weekend and Esentepe remain in 3rd place, with in form Gönyeli hard on their heels. Esentepe are at home next week to bottom place Karşiyaka so there is still a chance to revive their promotion hopes.
ESENTEPE TEAM (4-4-2, replacements in brackets, merit marks out of 10)
Ali (gk) 5 : Firat 5, Şahin 5 (Hürkan 77), NERSIN 6, Uğurcan 5 : Emre 4, Hüseyin 5 (Muhammed 66), Mahmut 4, Eser 4 : Emrah 4 (Umar 55), Tacettin 4 :
Esentepe replacements not used :
Tuğrul (gk), Reşat, Derman.
ESENTEPE YOUNG TEAM A2 LEAGUE
TATLISU HOSK 0 ESENTEPE KKSK 1
League leaders continued their fine spell of form with a good win in against tough opponents. Striker HÜRKAN GÖRNECLI who is in a good goalscorer vein, netted the winner in the 41st minute.
ESENTEPE NEXT MATCH ;
Saturday 18 February : Home : v Karşiyaka SK : kick off 3-00pm : Esentepe Erdal Barut Stadium.
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FOOTBALL TEAM.
