By Chris Evans – Sport is all about emotion. Adrenaline flows during a game. What differentiates the decent player from an exceptional one is being able to calm the emotions in those critical moments and convert the chance.
The likes of Troy Deeney taking a penalty or Johnny Wilkinson with that drop goal prove the point. It also sums up Didim’s performance on Sunday. There were enough clear chances to win several matches. All were missed, resulting in a very disappointing defeat and bringing the reality of potential relegation into sharp focus.
It started well with Didim having a clear plan to overload the wings and get balls into the area. It took just 90 seconds for the first chance as the ball was played down the left wing before being flicked to the edge of the area. A well-struck shot flew inches wide.
Didim dominated the first 15 minutes in front of the smallest crowd of the season. On 24 minutes, the superiority told again as a great break saw a header pushed away by the visiting goalkeeper at full stretch.
The flow of play continued with the feeling it was only a matter of time before Didim opened the scoring. The 38th minute should have seen the scoreline change. A lovely move saw a low cross pulled back into the middle, where the shot was kept out by a desperate lunge on the line from a defender. The resulting corner saw an excellent header also hacked off the line.
Frustration was showing and the ill-feeling between the two teams boiling over as the half drew to a close. It was clear the team with the coolest heads would win the game.
The visitors started the second half strongly. Most of the few in the crowd were still taking their seats when a low cross ricocheted around the six-yard box before hitting the Pazarspor striker and crossing the line. Didim’s confidence visibly dissipated.
It was harsh on Didim, but they’d failed to take their chances. For the next 15 minutes, they looked like rabbits caught in the headlights. They eventually got themselves together and a through ball just after the hour mark led to a chance that the visiting keeper did well to block. The home side was improving, but finding it difficult to break down a team who had suddenly all become defenders. A half-chance that ended up over sailing high over the bar was the closest they came.
Things became unsavoury during injury time. Didim’s head coach clearly said something untoward to the 4th official. The referee came over to wave the resulting yellow card. It led to another of the coaching staff running over, waving his finger in the referee’s face. He then pushed the referee. Credit to the official who took a step back and didn’t milk the situation. A red card was the only option. Players and coaches had completely lost their heads.
The full-time whistle was a relief, as lengthy bans could have ensued from the extra red cards that seemed inevitable.
The scenes after the final whistle were a disgrace to both clubs. A brawl started outside the changing rooms with pushing, shouting, and at least 2 punches aimed. The police were forced to intervene. It was unpleasant to witness and made worse by the children watching on. Players and coaches from both sides are role models to these children. One hopes the clubs remind them of these obligations. It might also help the team on the pitch control their emotions and try to win games rather than cause a scrap.
The club is seeing far lower crowds, not helped by the doubling of the ticket price to 100tl. Behaviour seen after the final whistle won’t help bring people back. It will have the opposite effect. Nobody wants to see their team lose and then behave in such a fashion.