Today we visited Yeni Malatyaspor, looking for a change in our fortunes, but what we got was more of the same. Earlier in the season our troubles and struggles started with defeat by Yeni Malatyaspor at home. As in the earlier match this season, Serkan was red carded, this time in the last minute compared to the first minute. Again, as in the earlier match this season we play Fenerbahçe in our next match with Ertuğrul in goal.
In the first half we played very well creating chances, playing well in our formation and everyone seemed to be on the same page. Yeni Malatyaspor had a few chances, one from a corner, but most were shot’s from outside the box. Bajic was having his best half this season and was unlucky with a header inside the box that the Malatyaspor goalkeeper did well to save, then he had a snap-shot from the edge of the box, it was well struck and pulled out another save from the goalkeeper. At this point it seemed inevitable that Konyaspor would score. And that was the case, a great cross in from Skubic saw Bajic pulled back inside the six-yard box – PENALTY.
Issam Chebake was last man and saw the Red Card for his foul. Bajic stepped up confidently to take the penalty, he sent the goalkeeper the wrong way ……...GOOOOOOOOOOOL, with the very last kick of the ball Bajic makes it 1 -0 Konyaspor at Half-Time.
Half-Time: Yeni Malatyaspor 0 – 1 Konyaspor
As with the Kayserispor match it was a different side that started the second half, whereas in the first half they were confident & organized, in the second half they looked hesitant and nervous. They never made the man advantage work for them, it was now Malatyaspor that were playing confidently and getting the ball forward quickly. It could and should have been different, as early in the second half Guilherme was set free inside the box, his cut back was perfect for Bajic, but somehow, he contrived to miss. That miss seemed to inspire Yeni Malatyaspor who then had the bulk of play and chances after that. In the 65th minute Serkan can to the rescue after a quick breakaway from Fofana who squared the ball but the Yeni Malatyaspor striker could only hit the ball straight at Serkan.
Then came a couple of substitutions Hurtado & Thuram on and Shengelia & Bajic off.
On the 79th minute Skubic gave away a free-kick and he gets booked for his challenge. From the resulting free-kick, Serkan comes out into the crowded penalty area, gets a punch on the ball, but it only goes as far as the edge of the box. Murat Yildirim meets the ball and hits it first time, it goes through the crowded box and without a touch from anyone finds the bottom corner.
This goal finally sparks Konyaspor into life and they create a few chances, but in each occasion the final ball is poor.
Then comes a crazy moment from Serkan, he comes rushing out his box when he should have let Uğur deal with it, he misses the ball completely as he tries to kick it, the Yeni Malatyaspor player tries to pick up the loose ball, but Serkan puts his hand on the ball not once but twice, he leaves the referee with no option but to send him off. The game fizzles out after this with Yeni Malatyaspor looking much happier with a point, for Konyaspor this feels like a defeat.
Final-Score: Yeni Malatyaspor 1 – 1 Konyaspor
Once again, we are unable to hold onto a lead, this simply looks like a team that has forgotten how to win. Next weekend we host Fenerbahçe, once again without Serkan and in a match that we simply have to take something, even if it is just a point.
Again, as in previous weeks we are looking at the teams below us and hoping that none of them win.