Merih Demiral scored twice – including the quickest knockout-stage goal in European Championship history – as Turkey stunned Austria to set up a quarter-final with the Netherlands.
This was arguably the best game of the tournament so far, a thrilling winner-takes-all tie played in pouring rain at a frenetic pace, with both teams roared forward by their fervent support.
From Demiral’s first goal in the first minute to a stunning save by Turkey goalkeeper, Mert Gunok, to deny Austria an equaliser in the last, there was barely time for the crowd to draw a breath.
Turkey set the tone for what was to come when they opened the scoring with just 57 seconds on the clock. Arda Guler’s corner was not cleared and Demiral pounced from close range to send their fans packed inside Leipzig’s Red Bull Arena into raptures.
Just before the hour mark, the same duo combined again. With Austria piling on the pressure, a rare foray forward resulted in another Guler corner that the 6ft 4in centre-back Demiral rose to powerfully head home.
It brought the same deafening response from the stands and sparked wild celebrations on the touchline from Turkey manager, Vincenzo Montella, and his squad.
There was still work to be done. Austria had not managed a shot on target in the first half but were much improved after the break and pulled a goal back when Stefan Posch flicked on Marcel Sabitzer’s corner and substitute Michael Gregoritsch was unmarked to turn the ball home at the far post.
Earlier on, substitute Donyell Malen scored twice and Cody Gakpo got his third goal of Euro 2024 to help the Netherlands see off a spirited Romania and reach the quarter-finals of the tournament for the first time in 16 years.
Liverpool forward, Gakpo, opened the scoring with a brilliant finish midway through the first half, cutting inside before unleashing a drive into the bottom corner.
The Netherlands missed numerous chances after that, but made sure they did not risk paying for it when substitute Malen stabbed in late on from Gakpo’s ball.
Malen then wrapped up an impressive win for the Netherlands, with Romania having committed players forward, as he charged in on goal before slotting home.
Romania’s early pressing forced their opponents into mistakes and they gave them a scare when Dennis Man fizzed a shot just over.
But Gakpo’s goal changed the pattern of the game and they could have gone further ahead just before the break, but Xavi Simons somehow fired wide.
Malen, who had come on at half-time, scored twice in the final 10 minutes to avoid any late drama, and the Netherlands can now look forward to facing Turkey at the Olympiastadion on Saturday.-BBC
