By Richard Beale…………..

There were contrasting emotions and the end of this match as Esentepe cruelly lost a penalty “shoot out” 5-4 to send Göçmenköy into the “Play off” final against Yeni Boğazici.

Result : GÖÇMENKÖY IYSK 0 ESENTEPE KKSK 0 (after Extra Time)

(Göçmenköy win 5-4 on penalties)

Saturday April 8^th 2017 : K-Pet League 1 Pay Off : Girne 20 Temmuz Mete Adanır Stadium.

Again please excuse this truncated match report as I am in England still because of a family illness. However with the help of Graham’s video and friends who were at the match we are able to write some kind of match report.

For this very important match, there were large support for both teams, for the loser this will be their last match of season. For the winner this would lead to another and very important battle to fight.

10 mins : Esentepe were awarded a free kick outside the box. Nersin cracked a left footed free kick which struck the Göçmenköy far post and rebounded to safety.

41 mins : From a Umar cross Esentepe’s midfielder İlyas got in a header which brought a good save from the Göçmenköy keeper Okan.

50mins : Another Umar corner resulted in Ilyas sending in a hard shot which was blocked in front of the line by a defender and bounced into the arms keeper Okan.

53 mins: İlyas then sent in a fierce shot which scraped the Göçmenköy crossbar.

68  mins : Göçmenköy were indebted again to their keeper Okan who produced a brilliant save pushing onto the post a shot from Tacettin, the ball then rebounding across an empty goalmouth.

75  mins: Göçmenköy produced a rare attack and Esentepe keeper Ali was at last brought into action pushing away a cross shot at the near post..

80 mins: Tacettin should have given Esentepe the lead, when from a good position unchallenged he headed over the bar. FULL TIME : 0-0.

EXTRA TIME : No real action, as both teams started to tire.

Action from match- right Goalkeeper Okan saving Şahın’s penalty

PENALTIES : Göçmenköy scorers : Sabri, Salim, Cem, Arda Sözcü Arda Ozkan. Missed : Kemal.

Esentepe scorers : Burak, Hüseyin, Tacettin Umar : Missed : Şahin and Mahmut.

Göçmrenköy wınnıng 5-4 on penalties.

SUMMING UP :

Penalty shoot outs are always cruel and are a lottery, but apart from holding a replay there is no other solution. Esentepe were the better team over 90 minutes and created the better chances. They really dominated the game for long spells only the woodwork and inspired keeping by Okan prevented Esentepe winning comfortably.

No blame can be attached to Esentepe’s players who missed their penalties. Both had the guts to volunteer and the bottle to step up and take the penalties. It is sad that young Mahmut missed the last penalty, he is a fine and gifted player who will learn from this bitter disappointment.

The contrast in celebrations at the end were marked with Göçmenköy players being mobbed by their jubilant supporters. In contrast Esentepe players were on their knees, some openly crying in despair they have given everything for the team, supporters and village today.

In a superb photo by photographer Cemil Garip, who captured an inconsolable Mahmut being comforted by Göçmenköy player Arda Sözcü. All credit to the Göçmenköy player who offered kind words and concern to Mahmut. Football is important but friendships made in football are more important. Good Luck and best wishes to Göçmenköy in the finals and for Esentepe team, hold your heads up you did yourselves and village proud,.well done lads.

Contrasting celebrations.

ESENTEPE TEAM (4-4-2)

Ali (gk) : Emre , Nersin, Şahin, Mahmut : Umar, Hüseyin, İLYAS, Uğurcan : Başak (Burak 88), Tacettin.

Replacements not used : Kurşat (gk), Derman, Emrah, Firat, Muhammed.

ESENTEPE “Man Of The Match” ILYAS.

OTHER RESULTS :

K-Pet League 1 Play off :

Gönyeli Sk 1 Yeni Boğazici SK 2.

K-Pet White Group Relegation Play Out :

Girne Halk Evi 1 Denizli SK 1.

Doğancı SK 2 Bostancı Bağcıl SK 3.

K-Pet Red Group Relegation Play Out.

Hamıtköy ŞHSK 5 Akova SK 5 (Hamıtköy striker Özgür Ongun scoring 4 goals)

Mehmetçık TÇB 3 Mesarya SK 1.

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