Fri Jun 20 18:28:03 2008

Comment | Email | Print

Turkish delight: Magic continues in PK win

---

Vienna, Austria (Sports Network) - Semih Senturk scored on the final play of double overtime, just minutes after Croatia scored the first goal of the match, and Turkey won in penalty kicks 3-1, to break the 1-1 tie for its third amazing win in the Euro 2008 finals Friday.

Ivan Klasnic broke the scoreless deadlock in the 119th minute for Croatia, but Senturk equalizied in the 122nd to send the quarterfinal to penalties. Croatia missed wide on two of its first three penalties - Arda Turan, Senturk and Hamit Altintop converted the first three for Turkey - and Croatia's fourth kick was saved by goalie Rustu Recber.

Turkey rallied for its third straight win to advance to the semifinals for the first time and plays Germany on Wednesday. Germany defeated Portugal, 3-2, on Thursday.

Recber only started because Volkan Demirel was suspended and made up for a huge mistake on Klasnic's goal with the save on Mladen Petric's penalty. Recber was way off his line in the 119th minute which allowed Klasnic to head into an open net.

Turkey took advantage of its final chance, a long free kick by Recber that went to the top of the penalty area. Senturk found just enough space to fire a shot by two defenders and into the upper left corner.

After Luka Modric missed wide right on the first penalty kick, Turan buried his chance to give Turkey the quick edge. Darijo Srna converted Croatia's second PK but Senturk put Turkey back in front with another easy conversion.

Ivan Rakitic added to Croatia's misery on its third attempt, firing wide left. Altintop converted to put the heat on Petric and Recber had the clinching save.

Turkey only advanced to the quarterfinals after scoring in injury time of a 2-1 win over Switzerland and staging a three-goal rally in the last 15 minutes of a 3-2 win over the Czech Republic in the group stage.

Turkey looked good early, building on its incredible finish against the Czech Republic. Altintop, who set up all three goals in the amazing three-goal rally, had the best chances in the first 15 minutes but couldn't convert.

Croatia settled in after the slow start and produced the best scoring chance of the first half in the 18th minute.

Srna made the initial pass to start the play, finding Modric just inside the area on the right side. He took the ball deeper and crossed through the area to Olic, who blasted the ball off the crossbar from close range.

The rebound fround Croatia's Niko Kranjcar, but he also misfired and Modric hit the ground a few times with both hands in disappointment.

The pace of the match slowed after the midway point of the first half, with the last chance coming off another long shot from Turkey. Mehmet Topal's blast from about 35 yards out curved just wide of the upper right corner.

Croatia had another golden chance five minutes into the second half when Olic nearly punished Turkey's defense for a poor pass back to Recber.

Olic charged in to get just a piece of the ball with his head and the ball fell to the ground just a few yards from the goal. Turkey defender Emre Asik failed to clear the ball for a second time but Olic's diving header from an impossible angle on the end line just rolled harmlessly in front of the net.

Croatia had the next two good scoring chances just minutes apart, the first in the 70th minute when Rakitic wasted a great passing combination that freed him inside the area. Rakitic set up the next chance two minutes later, but Olic headed wide of the right post.

Recber rescued Turkey in the 84th minute with a great diving save on free kick by Srna. The ball was driven around the wall and was headed into the top corner when Recber pushed the ball away.

Recber was called into action again in the 90th minute and stopped Olic's shot from just five yards out for his second big save in the closing minutes. Olic had one more chance in the 93rd minute but fired high and the whistle followed to send the match to overtime.

Turkey, which was under fire for nearly the entire second half, had three good chances in first overtime. Tuncay Sanli had two chances - one saved and one go wide - and Senturk missed high.

Neither side threatened in the second overtime until the closing seconds when Klasnic and Senturk both scored goals for one of the most amazing finishes in the history of the Euro finals.

With the ball on the right end line, Recber charged off his line to try and get to it. Modric beat him to the ball and crossed to Olic, who headed inside the left post before the veteran goalie could recover.

But after Croatia finished celebrating, Turkey pulled off another last-minute miracle when Senturk found the top left corner.

Turkey will have to continue its amazing Euro run without four starters against Germany. Sanli, Turan and Asik all picked up their second yellow cards and will miss the semifinal. Demirel was given a two-game suspension for his red card in the Czech Republic match and will also miss the semifinal.