By Chris Evans
Didim 09 Efeler returned to winning ways on Saturday with by far their best performance of the season against second-bottom Alanya. From the kick-off, there was a noticeable increase in energy from the team and a level of dominance we hadn’t previously seen.
It looked like being a good afternoon for the team celebrating the new electronic scoreboard, giving us all a clue where we were in the game.
Sadly, it all came crashing down on 12 minutes when Kemal Mert Ozyigit, the Didim goalkeeper, made an absolute howler. A simple cross came in, which he seemed to have caught, but as everyone started to look away, he somehow dropped the ball at the feet of the Alanya striker, who gratefully knocked it into an empty net.
It could have knocked Didim out of its stride, but the energy levels remained high, even though it was having trouble breaking down a stubborn Alanya defence. Didim was the better side and creating a few half chances, but still had to be wary of Alanya’s big number 9, Ata Kurtulus, who was by far the best player on the pitch.
On 43 minutes Didim got the chance to get back level. Burak Goksel broke behind the Alanya defence and was pushed from behind inside the penalty area by Harun Kaya. There were defenders covering, so only a yellow card for the Alanya defender. Burak Goksel dusted himself down and dispatched the penalty low to the goalkeepers left. An equaliser Didim had worked hard for.
First half injury time saw two great chances for Didim to go in ahead at the break. A great cut back was dummied in the middle, but the Alanya defence was awake enough to scramble the ball away. Then a three-on-two break saw the final pass overhit and a clear chance wasted. The half came to a breathless end with the scores level.
Didim started the second half on the front foot with crowd favourite Mustafa Karaman going on a couple of mazy runs that had the crowd on the edge of their seats. The pressure was telling and Didim came close to taking the lead on 61 minutes when a free header from a corner was saved by the keeper.
The action continued unabated as moments later Alanya had shouts for a penalty waved away by the referee. Didim broke down the other end. The ball was worked to the winger who put in a great cross. The keeper punched it straight to Mustafa Karaman, who controlled the ball before shooting for a clear goal.
Frustratingly for Didim, Burak Goksel was on the floor near the goal-line and couldn’t resist sticking his foot out to turn the ball home when he didn’t need to. He was offside, so the goal was disallowed. The kind of frustrating scenario that sees coaches pull their hair out.
Thankfully, it proved to be of little consequence, as on 73 minutes Didim launched a high ball forward. Didim won the ball in the air and set substitute Gokberk Efe clear. He made no mistake in stroking the ball past the keeper to give Didim the lead for the first time in the game. It was no less than the team deserved.
The goal broke Alanya’s resistance, and Didim continued to dominate as the game came to a close. It was by far Didim’s best performance of the season and a deserved win. Clearly, work on the training ground is now transferring to the pitch.
Didim’s nest game is away to Corlu Spor on 13th October, before the next home game against 52 Orduspor on 20th October with kick-off at 3.30pm at the Ataturk Stadium on Marina Road.