An entertaining game saw heartbreak for Didim Efeler 09 in the Ziraat Turkish Cup on Thursday afternoon as second division Adana ran out 2-1 winners, writes Chris Evans.

Didim saw a host of changes to the team, with a mix of youngsters and squad players getting time on the pitch. Despite the result, it showed there is a good strength of depth to the Didim squad when everyone is fully fit.

Adana also made a host of changes, but the bit of extra quality from a team a division higher was apparent throughout. The game proved a good test for Didim and one, on another day, they would have won.

Didim started strongly, giving Adana no time to settle into the game. It only took 5 minutes for the home team to come close to opening the scoring as an excellent cross was won in the air and headed goalwards only for the referee’s whistle to bring a halt to proceedings for an imaginary foul on the goalkeeper.

A minute later, more great play from Didim saw the ball bounce around the six-yard box just eluding a final touch from a Didim player before being hacked clear. Didim kept the pressure on and finished the first 10 minutes with a shot following a corner which looped tamely wide.

Moments later, the extra experience of Adana paid off as Didim was hit by a swift and clinical break. A long ball forward allowed Mehmet Mustafa Yildizac to outpace the Didim defence and give the home team’s young goalkeeper no chance with the finish. A sucker punch had caught Didim out.

It was one they failed to learn from 7 minutes later as the Adana forward line again showed too much pace and a low cross was hammered into the Didim six-yard box. Furcan Alicay was the unfortunate defender it hit before flying into the net to go down as an own goal and see the Adana lead extended. The extra pace and experience of Adana was looking ominous, with a Halloween hammering very much on the cards.

Credit is due to the much changed Didim team. Despite being hit with two quick and clinical breaks, their heads did not drop. They kept playing and had the only real chance of note with a shot deflected over the bar as the half came to a close. Adana’s extra quality had shown, but Didim was probably unlucky to be two goals behind.

Adana came out in the second half looking to put the game to bed. A minute in and the Adana striker was left 1-on-1 with Didim’s young keeper, Orhan Can Bostan, who produced an excellent save.

Didim had clearly learned from Adana and launched a quick break which saw Suleyman Celik hold off a defender as he raced through before lobbing the keeper and bringing Didim firmly back into the game at 2-1.

The half-time substitutes were having an impact for Didim, especially Hakan Can Durou, who showed creativity and bite in midfield bringing the other Didim players into the game. The best chance came on 73 minutes when a clever free kick was played into the area where Didim’s striker got to the ball first before being clearly tripped by the goalkeeper. The referee was the only one in the ground who didn’t spot the penalty.

Didim kept pushing, but were nearly caught out on 86 minutes when playing the ball out from the back nearly led to disaster as the Adana striker stole the ball, leaving him 1-on-1 with the goalkeeper. Once again, the young goalkeeper showed his quality with a fine save.

In the end, it was not to be for Didim Efeler 09, but it was a valiant effort and very close to causing a spooktacular cup upset.

Didim Efeler 09’s next game is at home in the league to Bayburt Ozel Idare Spor on Sunday with a 2pm kick-off.