League Play-Off

Merinos
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Merinos SK's Sakut Atikoğlu started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Talat Nurkan took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Sakut Atikoğlu, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 4th match minute, Youth Academy FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Halis Talaykan to maneuver through the defense. When Emre Tuyuğ fell near the penalty area in the 5th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Youth Academy FC's protests and gave Emre Tuyuğ a yellow card for diving instead. 5 minutes into the game, one of Youth Academy FC:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. An unexpectedly hard shot by Batuhan Saykal in the 11th minute of play forced Merinos SK's goalkeeper Yetkiner Ruhittin to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After some careless play in the Merinos SK defense, Alper Mürşit kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Yetkiner Ruhittin. The Merinos SK fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Yetkiner Ruhittin should have stopped the shot. After 15 minutes of play, Youth Academy FC's Alper Mürşit made it 1-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Yetkiner Ruhittin was left in no man's land by his defense there! After a defensive mix-up in Merinos SK's zone, Batuhan Saykal stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Yetkiner Ruhittin came out of the goal and Batuhan Saykal tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 23 minutes into the game, Alkın Esendağ was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Merinos SK's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Youth Academy FC the free kick. In the 24th minute of the match Emre Tuyuğ sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Yetkiner Ruhittin skillfully saved the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alper Mürşit in the 25th minute of play forced Merinos SK's goalkeeper Yetkiner Ruhittin to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a rather tough play, Merinos SK's Tugay Özil got a free kick in the 26th minute. After a defensive mix-up in Merinos SK's zone, Batuhan Saykal stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Yetkiner Ruhittin came out of the goal and Batuhan Saykal tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Yetkiner Ruhittin showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alper Mürşit, who was totally free with the ball in the 29th minute. If Batuhan Saykal had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 30th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 37 minutes into the match, Merinos SK's Sakut Atikoğlu sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Talat Nurkan narrowly saved just below the crossbar. If Sakut Atikoğlu had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 42nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Sakut Atikoğlu was really disappointed when he shot the ball just outside the right post instead of scoring a goal in the 44th minute. Merinos SK's manager could be seen on the sidelines shaking his head and muttering to himself as his team had just wasted another chance. Talat Nurkan made an important save on a dangerous shot by Derman Yaltıray in the 46th minute. The Merinos SK players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Youth Academy FC were winning 1-2.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Alper Mürşit made a kick off. Yetkiner Ruhittin made a fantastic save in the 58th minute, when Batuhan Saykal sent off a good shot on target. In the 59th minute Alper Mürşit shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Yetkiner Ruhittin saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 61 minutes into the match, Youth Academy FC's goal looked a bit too open when Sakut Atikoğlu came free, but Talat Nurkan reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Alper Mürşit sent away a hard shot on goal in the 65th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 72nd match minute, Youth Academy FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Batuhan Saykal to maneuver through the defense. If Batuhan Saykal had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 74th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Derman Yaltıray sent away a hard shot on goal in the 80th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 82 minutes into the match, Youth Academy FC's Batuhan Saykal sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Yetkiner Ruhittin narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Batuhan Saykal fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 89th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Yetkiner Ruhittin having to interfere. In the 90th match minute, Merinos SK was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Alkın Esendağ to maneuver through the defense. 92 minutes into the game, Alper Mürşit recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Yetkiner Ruhittin. Alper Mürşit showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 2-3. The Youth Academy FC supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Youth Academy FC would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.