Merih Demiral was Turkey's unlikely hero, scoring each targets in a 2-1 win over Austria on Tuesday that booked their place within the Euro 2024 quarter-finals. The Al-Ahly centre-back scored after simply 58 seconds and scored an excellent header on the hour mark to double Turkey's lead. Michael Gregoritsch pulled a aim again for Austria early on and solely Mert Gunok's very good save prevented Christoph Baumgartner from scoring a dramatic equaliser in stoppage-time. Turkey advance to face the Netherlands within the final eight in Berlin on Saturday. Austria had emerged as a darkish horse to advance on the perceived weaker facet of the draw after topping a gaggle together with France and the Netherlands.
Ralf Rangnick's facet additionally beat Turkey 6-1 in a pleasant in March however this time they did not get better from a nasty begin.
Actual Madrid's Arda Guler was a relentless risk to the Austrian defence and his engaging supply from a nook precipitated chaos within the first minute itself.
Baumgartner's clearance off the road of the ball reached teammate Stefan Posch, who was handed by goalkeeper Patrik Pentz to Demiral who headed the ball into the web for the second quickest aim within the European Championship.
The livid Turkish followers celebrated wildly however needed to return to the bottom instantly.
Baumgartner struck the ball from inches from the sting of the field, however Demiral in some way prevented the RB Leipzig midfielder from heading dwelling after a harmful Austrian nook went vast of the aim.
Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella stated nobody may substitute captain Hakan Calhanoglu, who’s absent on account of suspension.
Nevertheless, Guller took cost within the playmaking function and nearly scored a surprising second aim for his facet with a daring effort from the midway line which missed.
Solely Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands have the next win proportion in European soccer since Rangnick took cost of Austria two years in the past.
Gunnok to the rescue
The previous Manchester United boss made two adjustments at half-time, together with bringing in Gregoritsch, who scored a hat-trick when the 2 groups met three months in the past.
Rangnick acquired the response he had hoped for, as Austria started to penetrate the Turkish defenses.
Gunok unfold himself beautifully to cease Marko Arnautovic from one-on-one earlier than Bayern Munich's Konrad Laimer missed a positive run from the center.
Nevertheless, they did not be taught from a Guler nook as one other tempting ball was headed into the web by Demiral.
In doing so, the 26-year-old defender turned the primary European defender to attain twice within the knockout stage of a serious match since Lilian Thuram for France on the 1998 World Cup.
It was a set-piece from the opposite facet that introduced Austria again into the sport seven minutes later.
Posch swept the ball from Marcel Sabitzer's nook to Gregoritsch who headed the ball into the web.
Even torrential rain couldn’t dampen the sensational environment in Leipzig, because the match was a house fixture for Montella on account of Germany's massive Turkish migrant inhabitants.
The jubilant environment was marred when Sabitzer was hit by an object thrown from the group as he ready to show a nook.
Pentz made an excellent save in further time to disclaim Baris Alper Yilmaz a 3rd aim for Turkey.
It nearly proved decisive, as Gunok needed to make an excellent cease to stop Baumgartner's downward header from going into the far nook.
It was an unimaginable save paying homage to England goalkeeper Gordon Banks' memorable save from Pele within the 1970 World Cup.
However Turkey held their floor amid Austria's aerial bombardment and reached the quarter-finals of a serious match for the primary time since Euro 2008.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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