Turkey booked their spot within the final 16 for the primary time since 2008 as substitute Cenk Tosun secured a last-gasp 2-1 win that noticed the 10-man Czechia crash out of Euro 2024.
Vincenzo Montella’s Crescent-Stars solely needed to keep away from defeat to progress to the latter levels and their hopes had been buoyed on 20 minutes when Antonin Barak was given his marching orders for 2 quick-fire yellow playing cards.
Turkey then appeared to be cruising following the interval when captain Hakan Çalhanoglu rifled them in entrance on 51 minutes with an excellent first-time strike from the left facet of the realm.
Nonetheless, West Ham’s Tomas Soucek pounced upon an error from goalkeeper Mert Gunok simply previous the hour to arrange a barnstorming finale.
The ten-man Czechs threw every thing on the Turkish penalty space however couldn’t present the late twist to remain alive within the competitors, and Tosun polished off the job with a positive shot in stoppage time.
A second crimson card arrived after the ultimate whistle was blown when Czechia’s Tomas Chory was despatched off, making this essentially the most ill-disciplined match in European Championship historical past with a complete of 16 yellow and two crimson playing cards.
The consequence sees Turkey end second in Group F with seeing them progress as among the finest third-placed groups.
The Czechs, who reached the final eight within the earlier Euros, find yourself all-time low and head house early. Turkey will now meet Austria within the final 16 subsequent Tuesday.
Speaking Level – Turkey progress by way of the scenic route as they finish Czech hopes as soon as once more
Turkey have made a behavior of beating the Czechs within the final group recreation at a Euros and coach Ivan Hasek might have been forgiven for pondering destiny was conspiring towards them earlier than a ball had even been kicked.
The Czechs had been already with out their report scorer on the Euros within the type of the injured Patrik Schick when a promising begin was curtailed by a by some means harsh crimson card – by way of two fast cautions.
To their credit score, the 10-men continued to battle and regardless of falling behind grabbed a lifeline when certainly one of a number of harmful set items paid dividends.
An unlikely turnaround remained on the playing cards till deep into stoppage time when Turkey rubbed salt of their wounds with a winner on the break.
It’s by no means routine with regards to The Crescent Stars but it surely’s often somewhat entertaining. They continue to be darkish horses to copy the form of run that noticed them attain the semis in 2008 as they’re in what seems like the simpler facet of the draw on paper.
Participant of the match
Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Turkey). The 30-year-old Inter midfielder stored the sport ticking over in the midst of the park and capped a positive particular person show together with his first-ever European Championship aim in his third finals.
Participant rankings
TURKEY: Günok 5, Muldur 7, Demiral 7, Akaydin 7, Kadioglu 7, Yuksek 7, Calhanoglu 8*, Ozcan 6, Güler 7, Yildiz 7, Yilmaz 7. Subs: Ayhan 6, Yokuslu 6, Tosun 7, Aktürkoglu 6, Kokcu n/a.
CZECH REPUBLIC: Stanek 7, Holes 7, Hranac 7, Krejci 7, Coufal 7, Soucek 8, Provod 7, D. Jurasek 7, Barak 4, Hlozek 6, Chytil 6. Subs: Kuchta 6, Kovar 6, Chory 6, Lingr 6, M. Jurasek n/a.
Match Highlights
18’ – CZECH REPUBLIC CHANCE! Robin Hranác contrives to information a free header over after Soucek had nodded a protracted throw from the fitting again into the combination.
20’ – CZECH REPUBLIC RED CARD! It is a catastrophe for the Czechs as Antonín Barák picks up a second yellow card. It appears a bit harsh as there was little within the problem but it surely’s two 9 minutes aside and it leaves the Czechs with all of it to do.
45’ – CZECH REPUBLIC CHANCE! Jurásek surges down the left in assist of a incredible counter assault led by Lukas Provod. It is performed into his path inside the realm however he cannot squeeze his shot past the advancing Mert Günok.
51’ – GOAL! – Turkey 1-0 Czech Republic: (Çalhanoglu). Hakan Çalhanoglu breaks the impasse with a ferocious first-time shot into the far nook from the left facet of the realm after Stanek had initially stored them at bay with an excellent save.
66’ – GOAL! – Turkey 1-1 Czech Republic: (Soucek). Lifeline! The ten-men are again in it and it is their skipper Soucek who hammers it house after Turkey goalkeeper Mert Günok fumbled the ball again into play. All of it got here from one other lengthy throw that wreaked havoc within the Turkish space.
90+4’ – GOAL! – Turkey 2-1 Czech Republic: (Tosun). The substitute finishes it off as he cuts in from the left to shine off a breakaway with a rasping shot into the far nook.
