Macdara Ferris reports from Leipzig
Türkiye’s time at this Euro 2024 tournament will continue until the weekend at least as they sent Austria home after an intense last 16 tie in Leipzig. It probably required the save of the tournament at the death from Mert Gunok to secure the victory but the win for Türkiye was fully merited.
Two set pieces from Arda Güler that were both forced home by Merih Demiral were critical on the night when Ralf Rangnick’s side couldn’t add to substitute Michael Gregoritsch’s second half goal to take the game to extra-time.
The Leipzig Arena was lit up in red, with this last 16 tie lit up inside the first minute by the quickest ever goal scored in the knock-out stages of the Euros – indeed only Nedim Bajrami’s goal for Albania scored earlier in this tournament has been quicker in any European Championship match.
Güler created the goal with his corner causing maximum confusion in the Austrian six yard box. As the ball pinged around it fell for Demiral who blasted it home from close range into the roof of the net to make it 1-0 with just 57 seconds on the clock.
It seemed a quick equaliser was inevitable as within a minute Christoph Baumgartner drilled a shot just wide of the post and on five minutes it required Demiral to do just enough to put off Baumgartner at the back post when Romano Schmid’s corner came all the way to the RB Leipzig man.
It was hard to tell who could lay claim to being the home team with Austria having two RB Leipzig players in their starting XI along with two former players and manager.
Meanwhile the sizable Turkish community living in Germany bolstered by travelling fans could lay claim to be the ones at home.
Either way with the huge support for both sides, it gave the game a real intensity, especially with the prize of quarter-final against the Netherlands on Saturday in Berlin for the winner only adding to the sense of occasion.
Nominally a 41,000 all seater stadium, it certainly looked almost like a 41,000 all standing stadium with both sets of supporters on their feet throughout the 90 minutes.
Vincenzo Montella’s side were missing their talismanic skipper Hakan Çalhanoğlu due to suspension and had a sizeable contingent walking the suspension tightrope for any possible quarter final to come – they started with seven players who were one yellow card away from missing out on the next match.
Both Orkun Kökçü and İsmail Yüksek went in the book in a frenetic first half that went from end to end and they won’t play now in Berlin this weekend.
Türkiye with their early one goal lead were happy to sit in a very deep low block as they looked to hit on the break through Kenan Yıldız and the lively Arda Güler.
The 19-year-old Real Madrid star in the 19th minute picked up a loose Austrian pass, beat two players in the centre circle, and from halfway sent a shot that had Patrick Pentz backpeddling quickly to his goal.
He was happy to see Güler’s audacious effort just drift wide of the goal.
When Türkiye had the the ball we saw plenty of the pressing that Ralf Rangnick sides are known for as the look to force an error from the Turks. It was an even 50 / 50 split of possession in the opening 45 minutes but whenever Austria had the ball it was a complete cacophony of whistles from the Turkish fans.
Baumgartner went close in first half injury time but they trooped off still a goal down to the Turks.
Rangnick made two substitutions at the break as they looked to get back into the tie - Romano Schmid and Phillipp Mwene made way for Michael Gregoritsch (who got a hat-trick in their 6-1 friendly win over Türkiye earlier this year)and Alexander Prass at the start of the second half.
The half time break also brought the rain and that speeded up the playing surface in the second half – a pitch which this week won the award for the best in the Bundesliga.
The damp surface probably helped Gunok save from Marko Arnautovic when he slid out to block the ball with his boot as the Austrian skipper got in on goal.
Güler and Demiral combined again at a corner to double the lead just before the hour mark. Güler’s corner kick was delayed with empty cups being pelted his way but when he swung the ball eventually in, Demiral rose highest to head home and nearly lift the roof in the Red Bull stadium.
Das Team looked dead and buried at that point but Gregorisch popped up in the 66th minute inside the six yard box to turn home Stefan Posch downward header from Marcel Sabitzer’s corner and grab his second goal of the tournament – both scored having come off the bench. All three goals in the game came from corners.
Wave after wave of Austrian attacks went forward toward Gunok’s goal but the Beşiktaş keeper and the defence in front of him stood firm. He pulled out a truly world class save to push away Baumgartner’s downward header which bounce up off the turf and seemed destined for the back othe net.
The round of 16 marks as far as Austria have ever travelled in the Euros.
For Türkiye they make the quarter-final and have the prospect of emulating their countries semi-final best of 2008. The dream of going even further remains on as they take over the dark horse mantle from the eliminated Austrian side.
Austria: Patrick Pentz; Stefan Posch, Kevin Danso, Philipp Lienhart, Philip Mwene (Maximilian Wober 64), (Alexander Prass h/t); Nicolas Seiwald, Marcel Sabitzer; Konrad Laimer (Florian Grillitsch 64), Christoph Baumgartner, Romano Schmid (Michael Gregoritsch h/t); Marko Arnautovic.
Subs not used: Niklas Hedl, Heinz Lindner, Flavius Daniliuc, Leopold Querfeld, Matthias Seidl, Marco Grull, Florian Kainz, Andreas Weimann, Maximilian Entrup,.
Booked: Romano Schmid (38), Philipp Lienhart (52)
Türkiye: Mert Gunok; Mert Muldur, Abdülkerim Bardakcı, Merih Demiral, Ferdi Kadıoğlu; İsmail Yüksek (Salih Özcan 58), Kaan Ayhan; Baris Yilmaz, Orkun Kokcu (Irfan Kahveci 83), Kenan Yıldız (Kerem Akturkoglu 78); Arda Güler (Okay Yokuslu 78)
Subs not used: Altay Bayindir, Ugurcan Cakir, Zeki Celik, Ahmetcan Kaplan, Yusuf Yazici, Yunus Akgun, Cenk Tosun, Semih Kılıçsoy, Bertuğ Yıldırım.
Booked: Orkun Kökçü (11), İsmail Yüksek (42)
Referee: Artur Soares Dias (Portugal)
extratime.com Player of the Match: Merih Demiral (Türkiye)
