2024-07-03 10:10:57
BERLIN. A brace from defender Merih Demiral, combined with a stunning save from Mert Gunok in the 95th minute, sent Turkey to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024.
Austria is beaten 2-1 and an entire nation goes into ecstasy. Vincenzo Montella’s team, the last Italian coach left in Germany, will face Holland on Saturday in Berlin. It was predictable that this eighth would be a very different match from the friendly won 6-1 by Austria in March. Turkey learned from that defeat and, despite suffering a lot in the final, took a very heavy revenge.
Arnautovic starts in the attack of coach Rangnick. Montella has to do without his best player, Calhanoglu, who is suspended. In his place is Kokçu. Up front are two 19-year-olds: Arda Guler and Juventus player Kenan Yildiz. It takes only 57″ for Turkey to surprise the Austrian defense with Demiral, who sends a short rebound from Pentz under the crossbar and scores the second fastest goal in the history of the European Championship, after Bajrami’s against Donnarumma (28″).
The reply was immediate, but Baumgartner’s right-footed shot was just wide. The Leipzig midfielder was immediately one of the most dangerous and Kokçu, who was cautioned, received the first yellow card of the match to stop him. Austria pressed very high, Turkey locked themselves down with two lines of five players and as soon as they could they started again, looking for the speed of Guler and Yildiz. A foray by Baumgartner forced Yuksek to commit a foul and referee Soares Dias cautioned him. He was also cautioned. It started to rain and Austria slowed down the attack with the entry of Gregoritsch and Prass. Gunok came out and stopped Arnautovic. Turkey now suffered and Montella brought on Ozcan for Yuksek. In the 14th minute the Turkish team doubled their lead: Guler drew a vicious trajectory from the corner on which Demiral, this time with his head, beat Pentz again.
Austria does not give up and halves the deficit in the 22nd minute. Another goal from a corner: Posch’s run in the center of the area becomes a pass for Gregoritsch, a touch on the fly and a goal. Goalkeepers are the protagonists in the tense final: Pentz stops a counterattack by Yilmaz, Gunok responds by performing a real miracle on Baumgartner’s header from a few meters, a save that smacks of history.
2024-07-03 10:10:57