By Richard Beale …….
Yes I am not dreaming, an Esentepe win at long last and 4 goals scored as well, thanks to a Junior first half hat trick and a first goal at senior level in the second half for youngster Mustafa Günlü.
Result: ESENTEPE KKSK 4 GENCLIK GUCU TSK 1
Saturday February 9, 2019 : K-Pet Super League : Esentepe Erdal Barut Stadium
Esentepe who have suffered a harrowing season took out all their frustrations on Lefkoşa based team Gençlik Gücü which was undoubtedly their best performance of the season. This was a must win game for Esentepe and they did it in style and they have now climbed to bottom but one in the League. In last place are Girne Halk Evi who Esentepe face away next Saturday, what a dog fight that will be.
After scoring 6 times last weekend Gençlik Gücü showed why they are a very inconsistent team this season. They are a “Jekyll and Hyde” team, on their day they can beat anybody, but when they not on their game they are bad. Luckily for Esentepe “Mr Hyde” turned up, they were not at the races today.
MATCH NOTES
5 mins : A long ball out of the G.Gücü defence found their dangerman Öngür Ongun on the left, the prolific striker outstripped Mustafa Kiliç and got in a shot that Esentepe young keeper Onur managed to push round for a corner.
13 mins : Esentepe took the lead when JUNIOR started the move and finished it. The Cameroon International picked the ball up beating a couple of players before passing to Sane who it turn found Kaan on the left, the wingers measured across to the far post found JUNIOR again who slid the ball home. 1-0
14 mins : Unbelievably Esentepe scored again immediately after G.Gücü lost the ball from the kick off, again Junior was involved in the start of the move he passed to Sane, who in turn passed to Hüseyin who sent a long ball into the visitors goal area, which was headed in by JUNIOR who had kept on running into the box. 2-0.
25 mins : Esentepe Nigerian winger Efosa set upon a run on the right putting over a low cross that Sane hit wide from a great position.
26 mins : G.Gücü hit the bar following an Ocran corner to the far post that İltaç managed to connect with the ball but saw his shot hit the bar and Esentepe managed to scramble the ball away.
It was thrilling end to end stuff both teams looked likely to score any time they attacked.
30 mins : Esentepe missed another golden opportunity to increase their lead when Kaan on the left brilliantly beat his marker before sending over a perfect cross to the hovering Junior but the striker headed wide.
35 mins : G. Gücü pulled a goal back direct from a free kick taken by PRINCE BOATENG wide on his left. His kick went in at the near post, maybe young Esentepe goalkeeper Onur could have done better preventing the goal. 2-1
42 mins : Esentepe increased their lead when they were awarded a free kick on the left, Kaan simply squared the ball to JUNIOR standing outside the area, he sent in a low shot that beat the diving Dağman to complete his hat trick. HALF TIME SCORE : 3-1
JUNIOR in action and left celebrating a goal with teammate ÜĞURCAN
Quite rightly so in the second half Esentepe were quite content to defend deep and rely on breakaways it was up to G. Gücü to take up the initiative which they failed to do.
81 mins : Junior accepting and holding the ball found Sane in the G Gücü box he simply squared the ball across to an unmarked MUSTAFA GÜNLÜ on as a replacement who shot home, to record his first ever goal for the first team. 4-1
90 +2 mins : G. Gücü almost pulled a goal back in the dying seconds when Debola outstripped Muhammed and put over a perfect cross to Prince Boateng who somehow managed to scoop his shot over the bar from a few yards out to sum up G Gücü day. FULL TIME SCORE : 4-1
SUMMING UP : GOALS, SMILES, GOALS SMILES
Of course JUNIOR was “ Man of the Match”. Sane and Kaan in midfield for Esentepe had their best match of the season for Esentepe. In defence Şahin put in a real Captain’s performance aided by Uğurcan who defended, attacked and was all over the pitch.
Match video highlights courtesy of Graham Procter-Brown
