Turkey Advances to Euro 2024 Quarter-Finals After Last-Minute Save vs Austria
Mert Gunok was the toast of Turkey after his top-notch stoppage-time save to keep out Christoph Baumgartner’s header, sealing his country’s passage into the last eight of Euro 2024.
Vincenzo Montella’s Young Turks
Vincenzo Montella’s Young Turks are marching to Berlin after another riotous night at the Euros.
Turkey vs Austria: Match Highlights
Two goals from defender Merih Demiral sent the Crescent Stars through to a quarter-final meeting with Holland on Saturday night. However, it was a last-gasp save by goalkeeper Mert Gunok, preserving Christoph Baumgartner’s goal-bound header, that secured their passage into the last eight.
Turkey vs Austria: Team Composition
Turkey has the second-youngest squad in the tournament, with even calls for Montella to be sacked after his team was thumped 6-1 by Austria in a friendly in March. Only one of Montella’s starting lineup was over 30 – keeper Gunok – and Real Madrid teenager Arda Güler was the most innovative talent on the pitch.
The Game Dynamics
They had to call on large reserves of resilience, both before and after substitute Michael Grillitsch set up a grandstand last 25 minutes with a clinical close-range finish just seconds after coming on. Turkey’s large support was just as impressive as Montella’s players, producing a wall of sound that only grew in intensity as Ralf Rangnick’s side pressed desperately for an equalizer.
Austria’s Struggles
Austria’s last victory in the knockout stages of a tournament was at the 1954 World Cup – and they were staring down the barrel after just 58 seconds. Güler’s inswinging corner from the left, bounced off Stefan Posch, Baumgartner, and keeper Patrick Pentz, and Turkish defender Demiral rammed the loose ball into the roof of the net from six yards.
First Half Analysis
The frenetic opening was a sign of things to come, with the pace unrelenting. Turkey’s goal led a charmed life at times. Baumgartner was inches wide a minute after the opening goal, and then Romano Schmid’s corner skidded past three outstretched Austrian legs when the slightest touch could have been decisive.
Turkey vs Austria: Key Moments
Baumgartner sidefooted wastefully wide just before the break, and when skipper Marko Arnautovic fired a great chance against the legs of Turkish keeper Bert Gunok at the restart, Ralf Rangnick must have feared the worst. Especially when Arnautovic raced clear to lift an even better opportunity wide.
Turkey’s Second Goal
Turkey landed the killer blow just before the hour when another Güler corner invited Demiral to leap high between Philipp Leinhart and Kevin Danso to head powerfully home. When Grillitsch fired in on the half-volley after Baumgartner had flicked on Marcel Sabitzer’s corner, the tension was cranked back up again.
Final Moments
Austria laid siege to the Turkish goal but was denied an equalizer deep into injury time when Gunok produced a wonder save to keep out Baumgartner’s header.
