A first-minute goal and a crucial save in the final seconds secured Turkey’s spot in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals.
Merih Demiral scored twice, including an opener after just 57 seconds, and goalkeeper Mert Gunok made a vital save deep into injury time as Turkey defeated Austria 2-1 in the round of 16 on Tuesday.
“Our team spirit showed until the last minute,” Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella said.
Gunok demonstrated exceptional reflexes and agility, diving to his right to palm away a close-range header from Christoph Baumgartner four minutes into added time.
That save set up a quarterfinal clash on Saturday against the Netherlands, a team Montella said “fight like lions.”
“We will gather our mental and physical strength and keep following our path,” he added.
Austria had 21 attempts compared with Turkey’s six, frequently testing Gunok.
“I’m sure that if Baumi had scored to take the game to extra time, we would have gone on to win the match,” Austria coach Ralf Rangnick said. “The only thing we could be accused of is that we didn’t score enough goals from the chances we had, and that we didn’t work well twice for set pieces.”
The game began energetically. Both teams had chances within the first 30 seconds before Demiral scored when the Austrian defense failed to clear a corner.
Baumgartner’s attempted clearance rebounded off teammate Stefan Posch to goalkeeper Patrick Pentz, who scooped it off the line only for Demiral to seize the rebound and score.
It was the second-fastest goal ever at the Euros — Albania scored after 23 seconds against Italy in the group stage.
Demiral’s goal triggered wild celebrations among the majority of fans in the stadium – and many outside it. Germany is home to around 3 million Turks or people of Turkish descent, making them the country’s largest ethnic minority, and the team has enjoyed strong support at Euro 2024.
Austria nearly responded but Demiral managed to keep Baumgartner from scoring on the line.
The Austrians returned with renewed energy after the break, but a corner provided Turkey a reprieve. A shower of beer cups did not deter Arda Guler as he delivered a perfect cross for Demiral to head in his second goal in the 59th minute.
Austria’s corner-taker, Marcel Sabitzer, was also pelted with beer cups at the other end and at one point went down clutching his head to indicate he had been hit but quickly recovered.
Stefan Posch headed on Sabitzer’s delivery for the unmarked Michael Gregoritsch to volley home at the back post.
Neither team could add any more goals despite a flurry of chances in the rain, with Gunok making his crucial save in the final seconds.
Both teams were without their regular captains. Turkey’s Hakan Calhanoglu was suspended, and Austria’s David Alaba, arguably the country’s best player, is still recovering from a knee injury that kept him from playing in the tournament.
Alaba was present to support the team as it surprisingly topped a group with France and the Netherlands, and he shared a warm embrace with Guler, his Real Madrid teammate, before kickoff.
The Netherlands earlier defeated Romania 3-0 to advance.
