A failure to create and convert chances, added to conceding a late penalty having fought back into the match, saw Didim fall to consecutive defeats on Saturday afternoon against Osmaniyespor, writes Chris Evans.
The game started evenly with Didim looking as though it could certainly match, if not beat, their opponents. The failure to create openings has become a consistent issue, and it was showing once again as the team was guilty of being wasteful with the final ball, or overplaying around the opposition’s penalty area.
Osmaniye opened the scoring on 32 minutes when awarded a penalty for a foul only the referee saw. It was harsh on a Didim side full of endeavour if lacking in that little bit of quality going forward.
It was becoming a midfield battle with very few chances from either side as the game petered out towards half-time with the home side taking the advantage into the dressing rooms at the break.
The second half followed a familiar pattern of stop-start football with a whistle happy referee and substitutions making any flow to the game difficult. Didim’s work was rewarded on 72 minutes when Yigithan Turhan finally grabbed the equaliser. It was no less than Didim deserved and it seemed a draw was on the cards.
It wasn’t to be as another late goal sunk Didim. On 86 minutes, Furkan Kulecki was booked for what looked like an innocuous challenge in the penalty area as the referee pointed to the spot for the second time. The penalty was dispatched, and Didim slid to an unfortunate defeat. A lack of creativity and a proclivity to concede late goals will certainly be something that needs to be addressed.
Didim’s next match is at home to Adana in the Ziraat Turkish Cup on Thursday 31 October at 1330. A tough assignment against a team in a league above. Let’s hope the support of a home crowd can return Didim to winning ways.