TURKEY held on desperately late on tonight to beat Austria 2-1 in Leipzig and advance to the quarter-finals of the Euro 2024 European Championship in Germany.
Earlier in the day, the Netherlands eased past Romania 3-0 in their round of 16 clash in Munich to also reach the last-eight stage.
All of the goals for Turkey and Austria were from corner kicks while there were several opportunities for Austria to level up, including one in the final seconds when Turkey goalkeeper Mert Gunok made a magnificent match-winning save.
Turkey were in front in the first minute, Merih Demiral reacting quickest to rifle the ball into the roof of the net after Austria failed to clear an Arda Guler corner.
The goal, which was timed at 57 seconds, is the fastest ever goal scored in the knockout rounds at the European Championship and the second fastest goal in the competition’s history.
The two combined again as Turkey made it 2-0 in the 59th minute, Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia center-back Demiral powerfully heading home Real Madrid forward Guler’s corner kick.
Austria pulled one back seven minutes after Turkey’s second, with Michael Gregoritsch latching on to Stefan Posch’s headed assist from another corner kick.
It is the first time Turkey have reached the European Championship quarter-finals since 2008, while Austria have been eliminated in the round of 16 for the second successive time.
In the earlier round of 16 fixture today, Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo scored twice and assisted substitute Donyell Malen with a late third as the Netherlands cruised to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2008.
Turkey and the Netherlands will clash in the quarter-finals in Berlin on Saturday.
