By Richard Beale….
Gençler Birliği v Esentepe match
A 3-4 scoreline, 7 goals an exciting match? no a strange game, an end of season game, that really turned out to be played like a friendly game or an exhibition match.
I am still trying to get my head around it as “bonus points” were still on offer in the relegation playoffs.
Result: L.GENÇLER BIRLİĞİ SK 3 ESENTEPE KKSK 4
Saturday, May 11, 2019: K-Pet Super League: Iskele Cumhuriyet Stadium.,
I should explain Esentepe along with 3 other teams are involved in the relegation playoffs.
In the TRNC play outs teams are awarded points depending on their finishing League position when the playoff matches begin. The team that finishes in 11th place starts with 3 points, 12th place 2 points, 13th place 1 point, 14th place 0 points.
Esentepe, before this match, was the team that would start with 0 points, even though they have the same League points and goal difference as the team above them Binatlı. Leading 4-1 in this match at one stage they should have carried on to win by a greater margin enabling them to overtake Binatlı in the League and start with that precious bonus point. Binatli won 3-1, so in the end they finish on the same number of points as us, but with a better goal difference of just one solitary goal!
I should have known Esentepe were going to take this match lightly as they left out any player that were carrying slight knocks.
LGB having been relegated were already on the beach, nobody on the gate wanting entrance money, on a warm afternoon even no refreshment stall open!
LGB are a club similar to Esentepe having no money, having gone through 3 Coaches this season, they just wanted the season to end.
It was nice to meet up with a group of Ex-Pats, LGB supporters who go to every match home and away, great to see that they support local football.
Esentepe were comfortable in the first half, playing relaxed football, LGB playing a mixture of youngsters and regular players were just going through the motions.
In the second half Esentepe continued to press and were 4-1 up, then they switched off, not interested in increasing their score and going for that bonus point. Then I am thinking as an Englishman not a Cypriot, they do things differently.
LGB woke up, sensed that Esentepe had taken their foot of the gas, scored two easy goals in a space of 5 minutes and could have saved the game.
MATCH GOALS :
11 mins : EFOSA was brought down in the area by Kadır Erol, picked himself up and slotted away his penalty. 0-1
35 mins : A beautifully worked goal starting from goalkeeper Kurşat throw out, carried on by Ahmet, Yakup, Mustafa Günlü, playing one touch football and eventually to Efosa who slipped the ball through to YAKUP to score. 0-2.
52 mins : Esentepe were awarded a free kick on the right. AHMET ÇAĞER took the kick and 16year old LGB Goalkeeper Hasan dived but could only help the ball into the net 1-3
62 mins : Ex Esentepe player Tacettin on the left passed to ELVIS SAKYI whose low shot from outside the box seemed to go through goalkeeper Kurşat. 1-3.
72 mins: A superbly Esentepe worked goal direct from an LGB corner which was cleared by Ahmet to Efosa in his own half with only one defender in front of him. Alongside him substitute KAAN ran on into space, to receive Efosa’s perfectly weighted pass and smashed the ball past a diving Hasan from outside the box. 1-4
Esentepe were passing the ball around like Barcelona or Manchester City and maybe got too “cocky” and conceded two soft goals.
84 mins: A cross from the right was headed straight at Kurşat by Tacettin, only for the keeper to drop the ball to IBRAHIM KÖSE to simply poke home.2-4
89 mins: Another cross from the right again finding IBRAHIM KÖSE who easily shrugged off a challenge to score. FULL TIME SCORE: 3-4
Video match highlights courtesy of Graham Procter Brown
