Turkey beat Austria in a thriller to reach the Euro 2024 quarter-finals (Picture: Getty)
Turkey scored the fastest-ever goal in a European Championship knockout game on their way to edging out Austria in a thriller and reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2024.
Austria failed to deal with Arda Guler’s early corner, allowing Turkey defender Merih Demiral to lash home into the roof of the net after just 57 seconds.
It was the fastest goal in a knockout game at the Euros and the second-fast European Championship goal of all time following Albania’s stunning goal after 23 seconds against Italy earlier in the tournament.
Demiral, who plays in the Saudi Pro League, rose well to head Turkey into a two-goal lead on the hour mark, before Michael Gregoritsch scored for Austria to set up a nervy final 25 minutes.
Ralf Ragnick’s side pressed for an equaliser which would have taken the last-16 tie to extra-time but Turkey held on to make the quarter-finals, where they will meet the Netherlands.
Austria almost scored in injury-time as Christoph Baumgartner’s header seemed destined for the corner but Besiktas goalkeeper Mert Gunok produced a brilliant save to claw it out and send Turkey through.
The Turkey team to a man collapsed on the ground as the full-time whistle was blown, exhausted from their efforts to deny Austria and elated to reach the quarters.
Merih Demiral scored twice in Turkey’s impressive win (Picture: Getty)
Turkey finished second in Group F behind Portugal and continued their impressive run of form in Leipzig this evening as they look to match their best-ever Euros performance, which came in 2008 when they reached the semi-finals.
Austria were one of the most exciting teams in the group stage, topping Group D ahead of France, but came up short against Turkey as they failed to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in this tournament.
Ex-England defender Lee Dixon said on ITV: ‘Fully deserved for Turkey. The wingers came in and they didn’t know what to do with them.
‘Full of energy and their goalkeeper has been an absolute rock at the back. Gunok has produced an absolute worldie to send his country into the quarter-finals of the Euros. What a brilliant game of football.’
Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton added on BBC Radio 5 Live: ‘The way Turkey dug in at the end of that game, Austria pummelled them at the end of the game, but they showed that spirit and got over the line.
‘That save from Gunok is one of the great saves of Euros history. What a story they’ve been all the way through. They’ve got the Netherlands next and you wouldn’t put it past them to win.’
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