By Richard Beale ….
Yes, finally after 7 consecutive defeats a 78th minute goal from midfielder TIDIANE SANE gave Esentepe 3 vital points in this crucial match, which finally we have managed to “get the monkey” off our backs.
Result : ESENTEPE KKSK 1 ÇETİNKAYA TSK 0
Saturday December 1 2018 :K-Pet Super League – Esentepe Erdal Barut Stadium.
ESENTEPE KKSK v ÇETİNKAYA TSK
Christmas has come early for Esentepe with a present of 3 vital points, though we are still in the bottom three this win has kept us in sight of the clubs above us. As the song by The Hollies says “the road is long with many a winding turn”, Esentepe have climbed back onto the road again and for once this weekend there are smiles on people’s faces not heartaches which we have experienced over the last few weeks. With the Under 21 team also winning 2-1, Esentepe is a happy village this weekend. Ironically we have played better in some of those seven defeats than we played today against Çetinkaya, it is what managers describe as an “ugly win”. Of course I am pleased for the team that has put so much effort into previous games without reward and also for Coach Necati Tilki who has recorded his first win in charge of Esentepe.
The match was not a classic and not helped by some poor refereeing, where once again Esentepe seemed to be on the wrong end of some baffling decisions.
Çetinkaya are a big, powerful team, also a team of considerable experience of playing in the top League for many a season.
Captain Abbas Osum led his team by example and with his goalkeeper Cenk and fellow defenders Tunç, Abbas and Batuhan restricted Esentepe’s chances to a minimum.
In winger African Nwachukwu they had the game’s best player. Esentepe defender Uğurcan had to be on top his game to counteract his opponents skills.
Esentepe again put in a hard working team performance and it was their Captain Şahın Seker who put in a ‘Captains” performance, restricting Çetinkaya as well to minimum chances.
Esentepe in action in their new Man Utd strip!
11 mins : After a long clearance by Esentepe defender Hasan, striker Henry Odi fastened onto the ball and stung goalkeeper Cenk’s hand with a powerful shot.
24 mins : Sane receiving the ball outside the Çetinkaya box, created space for himself turned but shot wide.
Çetinkaya were the more confident team, spraying the ball around, keeping Esentepe back in their half for long periods, but it was the home team relying on breakaways that were creating the better chances.
41 mins : From a Ahmet Karal cross from the right Odi managed to get in a shot which brought Cenk to his knees. HALF TIME SCORE : 0-0
Both sides had great chances within a minute of each other, at the start of the second half to break the deadlock.
51 mins : A great ball from Sane sprang Çetinkaya’s effective offside trap, Ahmet Karal fastened onto the ball and looked certain to score, but he took too long on the ball and was disposed by Batuhan.
The ball was immediately transferred to the other end where Hakan in a great goal scoring position shot over the bar.
The game had now deteriorated, with the football suffered accordingly any skilful moments at a premium.
Çetinkaya offside trap was causing frustration to Esentepe and their supporters but it was finally broken when Esentepe took the lead in the 78th minute.
A long free kick from Şahin was only partially cleared to TIDIANE SANE standing just outside the box, the experienced midfielder controlled the ball and rifled a shot past the diving Cenk. 1-0
The players and fans celebrated wildly and enthusiastically not having experienced this very often this season.
Çetinkaya pushed their skipper, the giant and powerful Abbas, upfront to partner Faye but Esentepe ran down the clock without any scares to record a rare win. FULL TIME SCORE: 1-0.
SUMMING UP : Çetinkaya the “big City slickers’ must be kicking themselves being mugged “by their country cousins”. They will be very disappointed with their performance with so much experience and so much talent on show, I think they thought they just had to turn up and the 3 points were theirs for the taking. Esentepe goalkeeper Ali was the quieter of the two keepers as Esentepe restricted Çetinkaya to very few chances.
Video highlights of the match courtesy of Graham Procter-Brown
