By Richard Beale…..
Result : GIRNE HALK EVI 5 ESENTEPE KKSK 1
Saturday 16 February 2019 : K-Pet Super League : Girne 20 Temmuz Mete Adanır Stadium.
When arriving at the Stadium, we were surprised when told that the match was still on. On entering the arena the race track surrounding the pitch resembled a moat, the pitch itself was what can be described as a “paddy field’ with many areas under water.
However referee Osman passed the surface playable but it soon came apparent that this match was more like a “Keystone Cops” slapstick comedy sketch! Both sets of players found difficulty remaining on their feet, passing the ball usually resulted in it ending in a puddle. The opening stages were littered with errors as players strips soon resembled that of Rugby players.
I offer no excuses for Esentepe, Girne Halk Evi (GHE) adapted to the water better than Esentepe, it was a shame that such a crucial match had to be played in those conditions.
In the GHE side was a certain Lomana Tresor Lua Lua, yes that Lua Lua of the triple back somersault when celebrated a goal and of course an ex Premiership player who plied his trade with Newcastle, Portsmouth, Colchester and Blackpool. At 37 years of age he has put on some weight and maybe he cannot do his goal celebrations now, but he still has a footballing brain and skill at his disposal. He tormented the Esentepe defence scoring a goal and assisting in three more.
I must mention Referee Osman Özpaşa who had an excellent match, making sensible decisions and allowing for the bad playing conditions.
“Splish Splash having a splash” GHE (black) and Esentepe struggle in the wet.
MATCH NOTES :
4 mins : GHE scored with their first attack of the match with a simple goal Kaan on the right crossed to the far post where LUA LUA all alone unmarked headed in. 1-0.
11 mins : Esentepe equalised with a scrappy goal scored by AHMET ÇAĞER. Junior found Efosa on the left the Nigerian whipped in a cross finding Ahmet whose shot took a deflection off Mustafa before completely deceiving Goalkeeper Okyanus and trickled over the line. 1-1
12 mins ; Immediately from the restart GHE regained the lead Yankı crossed from the right Lu Lua header was parried by Onur straight to KAAN who made no mistake. 2-1
13 mins : It was end to end stuff and Esentepe were unlucky not to equalise when following a Uğurcan cross Sane tried an overhead kick only to see his effort hit the right hand post and trickle along the line before it was cleared.
17 mins : GHE increased their lead when Kaan at the far post did well to hold onto the ball before setting up JAMES to score with a low shot that beat Onur. 3-1
The match continued in these farcical conditions, defenders could not turn on the muddy surface, the match was a lottery.
27 mins : GHE almost scored again Mustafa Yasınses hit a shot in the area that Onur did well to dive and parry, the ball rebounded to Yankı but under pressure from Şahin and Mustafa he prodded the ball wide.
The game quietened down a little Onur in the Esentepe goal though was far the busier of the two goalies making a couple of useful saves. HALF TIME : 3-1
51 mins : Any hope of Esentepe coming back into the game were dashed when James found Lua Lua beat on the left, he beat Hasan before squaring the ball across to YANKI to score. 4-1
63 mins : At last the GHE goalkeeper Okaynus was brought into action leaping to his left to push a long shot from substitute Mahmut around the post for a corner. From that corner Okaynus dropped the ball which fell to Efosa standing on the edge of the box whose lob went just over the bar.
78 mins : Another bad goal given away by Esentepe Uğurcan lost possession on the left Yanki came inside the area, Onur dived at his feet but the ball rebounded back to YANKI who from a very acute angle shot at goal, Hasan tried to scoop it out, but it was adjudged to have crossed over the line. FULL TIME SCORE : 5-1.
SUMMING UP : Though the conditions were the same for both teams, GHE wanted it more they were ALL committed to the cause, whereas some Esentepe players went missing. Not going to criticise them because of the appalling conditions, this defeat hurt.
