Merih Demiral scored twice as Turkey beat Austria 2-1 in Leipzig to arrange a quarter-final conflict with Netherlands at Euro 2024 – nevertheless it wanted a marvel save from Mert Gunok in stoppage time.
Austria had gone forward inside the primary 10 minutes of their earlier two matches however right here they had been on the receiving finish. Arda Guler, the teenage sensation, whipped in a nook that goalkeeper Patrick Pentz couldn’t cope with and Demiral fired house.
Clocked at simply 57 seconds, it was the quickest aim within the historical past of the European Championship knockout phases. Ralf Rangnick’s Austria had been fancied, significantly given their 6-1 win over Turkey in March, however their opponents rose to the problem.
Austria’s Marko Arnautovic squandered an awesome likelihood to equalise towards Turkey
Marko Arnautovic squandered an awesome likelihood to equalise when he didn’t raise the ball over the goalkeeper and Austria by no means did draw degree. Demiral nodded in one other excellent Guler nook simply earlier than the hour mark to seemingly put Turkey in complete management of the tie.
Substitute Michael Gregoritsch did latch onto a knockdown to drag one again and arrange a dramatic end, however Turkey goalkeeper Gunok produced the save of the match to disclaim Christoph Baumgartner within the ultimate moments of an exciting match.
Gunok was the hero for Turkey with this extraordinary save
Guler’s corners | Gunok’s save
The problem for Turkey head coach Vincenzo Montella was to search out some fluency within the absence of their suspended playmaker Hakan Calhanoglu and to his nice credit score he managed to discover a method with the assistance of supreme high quality at each ends of the pitch.
Demiral celebrates scoring after simply 57 seconds towards Austria
Demiral took the player-of-the-match award however owed each objectives to the sensational supply of 19-year-old Guler. His inswinging corners had been too good for Austria and had been instrumental in Turkey profitable this tie. It wanted Gunok to see it by means of.
Austria flung so many crosses into the penalty field late within the sport however the final one was the important thing one. Because the clock ticked over to 94 minutes, Baumgartner did every thing proper, heading laborious and low to the goalkeeper’s proper. Gunok was as much as the problem.
Stats: Story of the match
Rangnick: Tough to attain with Gordon Banks in aim!
Austria boss Ralf Rangnick stated: “We did not have the required luck and I consider if the sport had gone to extra-time we might have gained. We had time to attain an equaliser, nevertheless it’s troublesome after they have Gordon Banks in aim!
“We did not make sufficient of our personal possibilities and we did not defend their set-pieces nicely sufficient.
“The 4 video games we performed had been very entertaining, together with immediately. Not every thing went very precisely, however they had been 4 very entertaining and intense video games. Now we have to take this with us into the Nations League after which into World Cup qualifying.”
Who performs who within the quarter-finals?
