Turkey scored in stoppage time to beat Czech Republic 2-1 and secure their place in the last 16 of euro 2024 and send the Czechs crashing out.
Cenk Tosun netted in the fourth minute of time added on after Tomas Soucek had cancelled out Haskan Calhanoglu’s stunner earlier in the second half.
The dramatic victory sees the Turks finish second in Group F, setting up a last-16 clash with Austria in Leipzig on Tuesday.
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As it happened
In a cagey opening, teenage starlet Arda Guler was the first to get fans off their seats with a bursting run through midfield before he let fly from distance with a shot which he couldn’t keep on target.
The task for the Czech, needing a win to reach the last 16, was made significantly harder only 20 minutes in when Antonin Barak was sent off for two bookable offences, though whether both were worthy yellow cards was debateable.
Turkey dominated the ball for the rest of the half as a result but struggled to break down a disciplined Czech defence.
And it was the side who had 10 men who went closest before half-time Lukas Provod seeing a shot saved with David Yurasek was denied from close range after a swift counter attack.
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Barıs Alper Yılmaz went agonisingly close early in the second half was was denied well by Jindrich Stanek, who managed to push the ball away.
His reaction stop to deny Kenan Yıldız moments later was even more impressive but he was eventually breached in the same attack, with Calhanoglu smashing a rasping strike into the far corner.
The CLEANEST of strikes 😍
Hakan Çalhanoğlu gives Turkey the lead with an absolute rocket 🚀#Euro2024 | #CZETUR pic.twitter.com/HIOEEincAo
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 26, 2024
The unfortunate Stanek’s misery was compounded after the save appeared cause a shoulder injury, leading to the keeper having to be withdrawn.
It probably should have been 2-0 just after the hour mark after Guler failed to make proper contact with a pass across the box.
And a matter of minutes later Turkey were punished as Soucek fired home after Tomas Chory was denied twice on the line, which was confirmed by VAR despite a coming together with the substitute and Turkey goalkeeper Mert Gunok.
Complete CHAOS in the box 😅
VAR deems that there was no interference on the goalkeeper, as Tomáš Souček fires the equaliser home for Czech Republic 👀#Euro2024 | #CZETUR pic.twitter.com/BPNxhUvlHp
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 26, 2024
With a draw suiting Turkey, it was the 10-man Czech’s who needed to push for the winner with the final minutes to play.
But Vincenzo Montella’s men finally confirmed their knockout place at the death when former Everton striker Tosun cut inside and fired home to spark contrasting scenes of jubilation and despair between both sides.
