The Crescent Stars have been one of the most surprising teams at the EURO2024 so far, and this game was no exception as they knocked out Ralf Rangnick’s Austria to set up a quarterfinal against the Netherlands.
Merih Demiral scored the opener in the first 60 seconds of the game, shocking the crowd, before adding a second at the start of the second half – again rising highest above Austria’s defenders from a corner.
Austria pulled one back seven minutes later through Michael Gregoritsch, and Christoph Baumgartner almost equalised to to take it to extra time in the last minute – but Mert Günok made an excellent save to send Türkiye to the quarterfinals.
As it happened
The game started fast, with the first corner coming for Türkiye. The ball fell to Merit Demiral after an initial scramble, and the defender pounced on the ball from close range, giving Türkiye the lead.
Austria nearly responded immediately, with Romano Schmid’s inswinging corner almost sneaking in, but a crucial goal-line clearance by Demiral kept Türkiye in the lead.
Ralf Rangnick’s men searched for the equaliser as the game settled down, but couldn’t find the rhythm they had in the group stages.
As the game headed towards half-time, Türkiye threatened more as they looked for their second, though couldn’t create clear-cut chances.
Austria came out of the second half with more purpose to their game as they looked for the equaliser. Marko Arnautović had the best chance from close range, but Mert Günok made a smart save down to his side.
Then, against the run of play, Demiral scored his second goal to extend Türkiye’s lead. The Al-Ahli defender rose highest in the box to get on an out-swinging corner, and his headed effort beat Patrick Pentz at his near post.
However, Ralf Rangnick’s men equalised seven minutes later through Gregoritsch. Stefan Posch flicked on an out-swinging corner, which the SC Freiburg defender met at the back post to halve the deficit and give Austria a lifeline.
Burschen searched for the equaliser, but Türkiye’s resilient defence held on until the final minute, and Christoph Baumgartner thought he got the levelling goal, only to be denied by a world-class save by Günok at close range.
This was the last action of the game, and Türkiye confirmed their progression to the quarterfinals for the first time since EURO2008, as the players celebrated on the pitch with their fans. They set up a tie against the Netherlands on Saturday at the Olympiastadion, and you can catch all the buildup to that clash right here on FromTheSpot.
The lineups
AUT: Pentz; Posch, Danso, Lienhart, Mwene; Seiwald, Laimer; Schmid, Baumgartner, Sabitzer; Arnautovic.
TUR: Gunok; Muldur, Demiral, Bardakci, Kadioglu; Ayhan,Yuksek;Guler, Kokcu, Yildiz; Yilmaz.