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Scorpions take on Storm in Turkish Cup semifinal rehearsal
Antalyaspor, a renowned draw specialist with nine draws in 22 league outings, is placed 11th in the standings going into today’s match, which coach “Şifo” Mehmet Özdilek considers “a must-win” game. The Scorpions last weekend again lived up to their label as they drew 2-2 away with Ankaragücü.
Trabzonspor, no longer considered a “top four” and without a league title since 1984, started the second half of the season with a bang -- beating Sivasspor 3-1 at home in week 18, winning 2-1 away over Diyarbakırspor in week 19, before mesmerizing Manisaspor 3-0 in İstanbul the following week.
Magic waning
All of a sudden, the magic of coach Şenol Güneş, in his fourth coming to Trabzonspor, began to wane, and the Storm’s slump began. Trabzonspor could only manage a last-gasp 1-1 away draw in the league with Bursaspor in week 21 and was held 0-0 at home by İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor last Sunday.
These two draws have had detrimental effects on the fortunes of the Black Sea side as Trabzonspor continues to tread water in sixth place, eight points adrift of current leader Galatasaray.
The Storm’s cause won’t be helped today by the absence of 24-year-old Argentine attacking midfielder Gustavo Colman, who faces automatic suspension due to an accumulation of yellow cards. Güneş is very likely to bring in Turkey defensive midfielder Ceyhun Gülselam to fill in for Colman.
Adding injured 23-year-old Croat left back Hrvoje Cale and Germany-born winger Engin Baytar to the potential list of absent regular starters means Güneş and his boys face a long evening at the Atatürk Stadium this evening.
“We had several glaring chances, but could not convert any of them,” Guneş said after last Sunday’s home debacle. “We will re-examine where the problems lie and strive not to make them again,” he added.
But Güneş had better make hay while the sun shines because the 2009-10 season is fast heading toward a close.
Scorpions relaxed
The Scorpions, as the odds-on underdogs, have little to lose in this evening’s match since all the pressure will be on the Storm. If Antalyaspor wins, it undoubtedly will be named the “team of the week” by all the sports media. If the Scorpions lose, then it would be a foregone conclusion.
And with the Antalya walking wounded healing rather slowly, “Sifo” Mehmet is definitely going to have a hard time forming a good team that can sweep the Storm aside. Injured Abidjan-born Serge Pacome, Giresun-born defender Vahap Işık, defender Şenol Can, midfielder Fatih Ceylan and veteran Montenegrin Radoslav Batak are still convalescing and trained separately from the rest of the team on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The good news is that Kerim Zengin and Ali Zitouni have returned to the fold; but these two players, even if they are fielded today, will be facing serious match fitness problems.
“Trabzon is one of the best teams [in the land],” said “Sifo” Mehmet this week. “It’s not going to be an easy match, it never has been. We have a good team, and the potential is there, but we have to work very hard because are no easy matches anymore,” he added.
The match kicks off at 8 p.m., and the referee will be Halis Özkahya.
Live on LİG TV / 20:00 Antalyaspor vs. Trabzonspor
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