Result : ESENTEPE KKSK A2 TEAM 4 DENIZLI SK A2 TEAM 1.

Sunday March 12, 2017 : A2 League white Group : Esentepe Erdal Barut Stadium.

By Richard Beale……….

Esentepe young team are only 3 points away with 4 matches to play on being crowned League Champions. Esentepe have now a 9 point lead, as they easily overcame second place Denizli.

The youngsters of both teams had to endure horrendous conditions, with heavy downpours, gale force winds together with thunder and lightning.

It’s a shame that this match of so importance was threatened by the horrible weather, but full marks to both teams as they battled the conditions and entertained us.

28 mins : Denizli took the lead with a penalty after Emre Mutlu tripped Özcan just inside the box. The striker picked himself up and sent goalkeeper Kurşat the wrong way with his penalty. 0-1.

31 mins : Esentepe themselves were awarded a penalty in similar circumstances when Servet tripped Mustafa and ONUR put away the penalty. 1-1.

Successful penalties- Denizli (left)- Esentepe (right).

35 minutes : Esentepe took the lead through top scorer HÜRKAN, after a Mustafa shot was parried by the Denizi goalkeeper to the Esentepe striker to score. 2-1.

43 mins : Right on half time Esentepe scored a third goal, again Mustafa was involved breaking on the left before crossing to the far post where MEHMET slotted home. HALF TIME : 3-1

46 mins : Denizli suffered a setback at the start of the second half when Servet, who had been earlier booked when giving away a penalty for Esentepe’s first goal, committed a second offence and was red carded.

56 mins : Emre Mutlu brilliantly ghosted into the area, before crossing for HÜRKAN to score his second goal : 4-1.

The conditions had now eased, and Denizli down to 10 men lost heart, as Esentepe made a number of substitutions to give all members of the squad a game.

There were joyful celebrations at the end and only freak results will deny Esentepe the Champions title.

Every member of the team contributed to the win, Mustafa returning from injury was involved in 3 of Esentepe’s goals. Mehmet on the right, scored one goal and made a useful contribution. Captain Tugrulsan and the tall Onur presented an impregnable barrier in defence. EMRE MUTLU was outstanding, I thought, probing and scheming in midfield to be my “Man of the Match”

ESENTEPE TEAM :

Kurşat (gk) : Semih, Tuğrulsan ©, Onur, Ali : Mehmet ( Ege Can 65), Emre Mutlu, Izzet, Doğukan (Hüseyin 55) : Hürkan (Ilkin 65), Mustafa (Kurtluş 55)

By Richard Beale…………..

Finally after a run of 6 matches without a win Esentepe overcame a dogged Denizli team to record a very important win. Esentepe are now in 4^th place in the League and still have hopes of clinching a promotion “play off” place. For Denizli their position now seems hopeless with only 2 matches left they will need a miracle to avoid automatic relegation.

RESULT : ESENTEPE KKSK 2 DENIZLI SK 1.

Sunday March 12, 2017 : K-Pet League 1, White Group : Esentepe Erdal Barut Stadium.

A little rain before the kick off !

The conditions were very inclement during the teams warm up’s with horizontal driving rain, making the pitch waterlogged in places. However thankfully, the rain had let up when the match started, Denizli won the toss and had the benefit of a strong wind behind them.

Denizli shocked Esentepe in the 3^rd minute, when they took the lead following a corner. Mustafa took the kick from the right, Esentepe goalkeeper Alı only succeeded in palming the ball to SALIH ÖZDOGANOĞLU to shoot home from close range. 0-1.

This unsettled Esentepe as they took a while to adapt to the heavy and greasy surface but they threatened in the 21^st minute following a good move. Umar initially then Tacettin set up a shooting opportunity for Ugurcan to get in a shot which needed 2 attempts by goalkeeper Salih to save.

Esentepe were pressing, Captain Nersin with a free kick forced goalkeeper Salih to push his effort over the bar with a fine diving save. From that corner Firat got in a header which the diving Salih saved at his far post.

Esentepe equalised in the 35^th minute from a free kick following a hand ball. Eser took the kick and Salih could not hold onto the ball, and HÜSEYIN following up at the far post tapped it in to score a rare goal for himself. 1-1.

Straight from the kick off Denizli almost took the lead, following a lightning break involving Ahmet who put through Kemal. Ali in the Esentepe goal reacting quickly, forcing the striker wide as he came out, the Denizli striker got a shot in that hit the outside of the near post and behind for a goal kick.

Full marks to Esentepe despite the heavy conditions they were trying to get their passing game going, though with the wind maybe the long ball was the right tactics. HALF TIME : 1-1.

With the wind behind them, Esentepe wasted no time, Ilyas sent in a powerful shot which took a deflection and went just past the post.

Esentepe took the lead in the 62nd minute following another free kick just outside the area. ESER again took the kick which went straight through a bunch of players and into the net past Salih. The Denizli keeper may have been distracted by Tacettin’s presence. 2-1

In the 74^th minute Mert wasted an opportunity blasting a shot high over the bar.

With their League 1 status in jeopardy Denizli threw caution to the wind, but the Esentepe defence were in no mood to let 3 points slip. FULL TIME : 2-1.

SUMMING UP : A confidence boosting win, as this has been missing from previous matches. A ‘ugly” win, but 3 vital points. With 3 matches left to play (2 away to fellow promotion hopefuls) Esentepe will be looking to the minimum of obtaining 7 out of 9 points, from those matches, a tall order. The conditions were never going to be helpful to both teams, but it was an entertaining match. There were a number of useful contributions by all members of the team. Emre and Nersin noticeably so. But FIRAT I thought, back to partnering Nersin at the heart of the defence was strong and powerful and was my “man of the Match”.

ESENTEPE TEAM : (4-4-2, replacements in brackets, merit marks out of 10)

Ali (g) 6 : Emre 7, Nersin 7, FIRAT 8, Mahmut 6 : Umar 6, İlyas 6, Hüseyin 6, Uğurcan 6 ( Burak 90 ): Eser 6, ( Başak 89 ) Tacettin 5 :

Replacements not used :

Tuğrul (gk), Muhammed, Şahin, Emrah, Derman.

ESENTEPE NEXT MATCH :

Saturday March 18^th : Away DOĞANCI SK : ko 3-00pm : Aydinköy Stadium, Nr Guzelyürt.

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Please watch a match highlights video by Graham Brown below and to read more of his news on Esentepe Community please click here