Medrih Demiral scored twice as Turkey reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 with a 2-1 win over Austria.
The centre-back scored 57 seconds in before doubling his tally early in the second half, with Michael Gregoritsch’s goal not enough to stop Austria crashing out in an entertaining last-16 tie.
But it could have been different had it not been for stunning save from Turkey goalkeeper Mert Gunock, who brilliantly palmed away Christoph Baumgartner’s header in the final seconds.
Ralf Rangnick’s side, billed by many as a team capable of going deep in the competition, dominated much of the game, particularly the final half an hour, but were ultimately undone by two set-piece goals.
Turkey will face the Netherlands in their first quarter-final appearance since 2008 in Berlin, with the Oranje booking their spot with a 3-0 win over Romania earlier on Tuesday.
Incredible.
Türkiye face Netherlands in Berlin next 🔜#EURO2024 | #AUTTUR pic.twitter.com/FKv6Dyaqlg
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 2, 2024
📰 Table Of Contents
Turkey stun Austria early on
Austria went into the encounter as favourites after an impressive group stage and the team packed with RB Leipzig stars playing on home turf were expected to be in command.
But they found themselves a goal down only 57 seconds in after a chaotic sequence inside the box from a corner saw goalkeeper Patrick Penz tip the ball off the line but only as far as Demiral, who slammed the ball into the roof of the net.
TURKEY SCORE INSIDE 57 SECONDS 🇹🇷
What a start to the game 🤩#Euro2024 | #AUTTUR pic.twitter.com/4rNwKL4yyy
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 2, 2024
A shocked Austria recovered well, with a host of chances coming to the lively Baumgartner.
The forward shot an effort wide before he somehow couldn’t turn in a corner from close range, with another chance inside the box also going the wrong side of the post.
A lively game saw Turkey continue to prove a threat and could well have gone in 2-0 up had Baris Alper Yilmaz not misplaced his cross after being played through on the right-hand side.
Second half
Austria began the second half with plenty of purpose, stretching the Turkish defence time and time again with Stefan Posch, Marko Arnautovic and Michael Gregoritsch all spurning decent chances.
And they were quickly punished as Demiral grabbed his second of the match from another set piece.
The Al-Ahli centre-back rose highest to nod in Arda Guler’s fantastic delivery to leave Austria with it all to do.
Another set piece goal for Turkey and they could be heading to the quarter-finals 🇹🇷#Euro2024 | #AUTTUR pic.twitter.com/YtVVJmLD5c
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 2, 2024
They took one step towards recover after 66 minutes with the third set-piece goal of the night as Gregoritsch got on the end of Posch’s flick to tap home and set up an intriguing final 25 minutes.
Yet ANOTHER set-piece goal and Austria are back in it 🇦🇹#Euro2024 | #AUTTUR pic.twitter.com/RVafI272MU
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 2, 2024
Turkey struggled to clear the ball away during a relentless spell of pressure from the Austrians but they lacked the final touch, with Baumgartner unable to leap high enough to find a proper connection to head home with a matter of minutes to play.
Yilmaz could well have sealed the game on the break in stoppage time but he could not beat the goalkeeper with his finish.
But Austria were still alive and Baumgartner went agonisingly close in the final seconds but a simply stunning save from Gunok sent his country to the quarter-finals.
