By Richard Beale……………

The meeting of League Leaders Esentepe and second place Karşıyaka, resulted in close and hard fought encounter with not a lot separating the teams.

Result : ESENTEPE A2 YOUNG TEAM 2 KARŞIYAKA SK A2 YOUNG TEAM 1.

Saturday 18 February 2017. A2 League Beyaz Group : Venue : Esentepe Erdal Barut Stadium.

ESENTEPE KKSK YOUNG A2 TEAM- KARŞIYAKA YOUNG A2 TEAM

Esentepe won a close fought encounter to extend their lead as League leaders to 5 points. The match was not a classic but both teams can be commended in producing a tense and very competitive match.

Karşıyaka took the lead in the 15^th minute through a harshly given penalty converted by Berken Keles, sending Esentepe keeper Kurşat the wrong way with his kick. Score 0-1

Karşıyaka were the more impressive team in the opening exchanges as Esentepe struggled to keep in check their lively opponents.

Esentepe eventually they equalised in the 31^st minute following good work by Mehmet on the left who managed to get in a low cross to the far post where KURTLUŞ KAYA managed to prod the ball in off a post to equalise. Score 1-1

Karşıyaka continued to look the more dangerous team and Esentepe keeper Kurşat was the busier of the two keepers. Half Time Score 1-1.

Esentepe in the second half came to grips with the opposition and deservedly took the lead in the 58^th minute through a goal from their Captain TUĞRULŞAN GUNAY. Ali Soytürk free kick from the right was fumbled by Karşıyaka goalkeeper Abdullah and fell obligingly to Tuğrulşan to prod home. Score 2-1.

Karsiyaka were unlucky not to equalise in the 65^th minute when Emrecan hit the Esentepe bar with a fierce volley.

Esentepe after a slow start, gradually gained control and just about deserved to win against a very useful Karşıyaka team who were very competitive and their diminutive midfielder Neçat looks a promising footballer in the making.

İsset and Hüseyin for Esentepe gradually gained control of the midfield and look fine prospects for future Esentepe teams. Captain Tuğrulşan coming back from a serious injury again showed fine leadership qualities and is a future Esentepe first team Captain in the making. However Esentepe Man of the Match for me was ONUR ÖZBİLGÜL who was outstanding in the heart of the Esentepe defence. Onur for an Esentepe player is unusually very tall and has played in goal and attack in past matches, and reverted to a central defender for this match and had a fine match.

ESENTEPE TEAM :

Kurşat (gk) : Ali Soytürk, ONUR, Tuğrulşan ©, Semih : Doğukan (Şukrü 60, Izzet, Hüseyin, Mehmet ( Selahattin 89) : Kurtluş( Doğukan Erdogan ), Hüsrkan.

By Richard Beale……………………..

Bottom placed Karşıyaka produced another “Lincoln” as they made mockery of their rock bottom position to record a shock win against promotion hopefuls Esentepe.

RESULT : ESENTEPE KKSK 0 KARŞIYAKA SK 1

Saturday 18 February 2017 : K-Pet League 1 White Group : Esentepe Erdal Barut Stadium.

ESENTEPE KKSK- v – KARŞIYAKA SK

Karşıyaka who have recorded only one win all season, and have yet to win in 8 matches under Coach Emre Perçini (appointed December 2016), deservedly piled on more misery to Esentepe’s atrocious start to 2017.

After last weeks bad performance against Tatlısu, Esentepe Coach Davut Kansu decided to build team morale and spirit by arranging for the team to stay away on Frıday night at a Hotel in Girne.The Club might have well saved their money as Esentepe produced another disappointing performance.

Karşıyaka who before the match had a team “ huddle” before the game started behind the dressing rooms seemed pumped up from the start as they took the game to Esentepe from the beginning. Karşıyaka Captain, Serdar volleyed a shot just over the bar in the 20^th minute, and then he provided a cross that Hüseyin headed straight at Ali.

Karşıyaka took a shock lead in the 26^th minute, when a corner was cleared to Kemal Yildirim who curled a shot past the diving Ali from just outside the box. Score 0-1.

Esentepe replied with their normal tried and trusted “route 1” tactic following a kick from goalkeeper Ali, ending in Tacettin curling a shot just wide.

Esentepe’s leading goalscorer Tacettın was set up by Başak in the 24^th minute and saw his shot gathered by Karşıyaka keeper Haluk save at the second attempt.

Esentepe were enjoying a good spell when after 35 minutes clever interchanging play from Iİyas and Umar, ended with Tacettin screwing his shot wide.

Karşıyaka certainly did not look like a side anchored to the bottom as their players were encouraging each other as they grew in confidence and certainly were not overawed and deserved their lead. HALF TIME : 0-1.

Karşıyaka should have increased their lead in the 50^th minute following a cross from the right finding Hüseyin Küsbeci in the area, the striker managed to get a first time shot in but it bounced just wide of Esentepe’s near post.

İlyas broke into the box before firing in a first time volley which produced a reflex diving save from keeper Haluk. The ball immediately was quickly cleared up field where Kemal fastened on to the ball before driving a shot into the side netting.

Esentepe should have equalised after 60 minutes following a long Ali kick which was perfectly nodded on by Başak into the path of Esentepe’s leading goalscorer Tacettin, but with only the keeper to beat he lobbed his shot high over Karşıyaka’s crossbar.

Esentepe replaced Hüseyin, who was having a reasonable game with Burak in the 57th minute and immediately the substitute was in the thick of things firing a rasping shot which just cleared the Karşıyaka bar.

Karşıyaka were packing their defence and midfield and relying on breakaways, one of these in the 74th minute resulted in Berk firing a shot just wide.

Desperate Esentepe committed more players forward pushing big defender Firat up into the attack and in the 78^th minute he put Tacettin on the left with a one on one with the keeper, but the out of sorts striker could only shoot straight at the advancing Haluk.

Still Karşıyaka could have sewn the game up following another Berk break on the left ending with a shot that just grazed the Esentepe bar. It’s been a long time coming for the Karşıyaka Coach and at last he had a win to celebrate, which he did on the pitch along with his team and jubilant supporters. It may be too late for Karşıyaka to avoid relegation, but they showed grit and determination and will not relinquish their spot without a fight. FULL TIME : 0-1.

SUMMING UP :

The pressure is building up on Coach Davut Kansu as the team look low on confidence and seem bereft of ideals. Esentepe are a shadow of the team that performed well earlier in the season and are in great danger of missing out on the promotion play outs if they continue in this poor vein of form. There was a slight improvement from last weeks’ performance but teams like Karşıyaka should be dispensed with at ease.

Unlike last week, there were positives to take out of the match, Emre Soytürk continuing his development. Steady performances from Nersin and Firat. Umar on the wing was the pick of Esentepe players showing good skills as he tried to prompt his team.

Top scorer Tacettin so often up against three defenders this season, seemed to run out of steam and is very low in confidence, he is in desperate need of another striker to play alongside him.

For Karşıyaka while there are points to play for there is hope, their Captain Serder was an inspiration with his never die attitude in midfield while at the back tall defender Bayram easily coped with any Esentepe threat.

ESENTEPE TEAM : (4-4-1-1, replacements in brackets, merit marks out of 10)

Ali (gk) 5 : Emre 6, Nersin 6, Sahin 5 ( Burak 68), Firat 6 : UMAR 7, Hüseyin 5 ( Eser 52), İlyas 5, Mahmut 4 : Başak 4 : Tacettin 4 :

Esentepe replacements not used :

Tuğrul (gk), Muhammed, Derman, Emrah, Mehmet.

ESENTEPE NEXT MATCHES :

Sunday 26 February : Away v Gönyeli SK @ Gönyeli Stadium, Lefkoşa.

Sunday 13 March : Home v Denizli SK @ Esentepe Erdal Barut Stadium.

Saturday March 18 : Away v Doğanci SK @ Aydinköy Stadi

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