Turkey score 2 late goals to advance
The Associated Press , Geneva Mon, 06/16/2008 10:26 AM Sports
Nihat Kahveci was already in the a habit of scoring decisive goals for Turkey. No Turkish fans in their wildest dreams could have been prepared for what he did Sunday night.
The striker scored two goals in three minutes late in the match against the Czech Republic to finish off an incredible comeback, giving Turkey a 3-2 win over the Czech Republic for a spot in the European Championship quarterfinals.
Nihat profited from an unlikely blunder from Petr Cech, one of the world’s greatest goalkeepers, who fumbled a simple cross in the 87th minute. He put the loose ball into the unguarded net to tie it.
With the game seemingly heading for a penalty shootout, the Czech defense fell apart and Nihat scored the decider with a precise inside-foot shot that bounced off the crossbar and into the goal two minutes later.
“Seeing the ball in the nets and knowing that the goal was bringing a win and the quarterfinals, it was an unbelievable feeling,” Nihat said.
He should have grown used to it. Nihat scored the winning goals in the two decisive qualifying games that sent Turkey to Euro 2008. On Sunday, he gave Turkey its biggest victory since reaching the semifinals at the 2002 World Cup.
Cech took the blame for the stunning demise of his team.
“It was my mistake that decided that we have to go home,” the goalkeeper said.
The Czechs were in control 2-0 on goals by Jan Koller and Jaroslav Plasil before Turkey staged its comeback in the rain. Arda Turan scored in the 75th minute before Nihat took charge.
Turkey goalkeeper Volkan Demirel was red-carded in injury time for knocking down Koller. Midfielder Tuncay Sanli replaced him in goal for the final seconds, but did not face a shot.
Turkey plays Croatia in the quarterfinals Friday in Vienna.
“The Turkish national team is in the top eight. Hopefully it will get only better from now on,” coach Fatih Terim said.
“I’m proud that I have players who know that the match ends with the referee’s whistle. We showed to the whole world what kind of a team we are. We had said that we came here to go until the end. We are working to make that goal come true.”
The Czechs scored first when defender Zdenek Grygera crossed into the area for Koller, the nation’s career scoring leader. Even though the towering forward had to lean his 6-foot-7 frame backward, he still got enough power and precision on the header to send it to the upper right corner. Demirel threw himself at the ball, but could only push it onto the underside of the bar and into his net.
The Czechs took a 2-0 lead in the 62nd under a steady rain when Libor Sionko sent a low cross into the area and Plasil threw his whole body sliding into the ball. Again Demirel got a touch of the ball, but not enough to keep it out.
Portugal had already clinched first place in the group and will play the runner-up in Group B on Thursday in Basel. (***) from. www.thejakartapost.com
The Associated Press , Geneva Mon, 06/16/2008 10:26 AM Sports
Nihat Kahveci was already in the a habit of scoring decisive goals for Turkey. No Turkish fans in their wildest dreams could have been prepared for what he did Sunday night.
The striker scored two goals in three minutes late in the match against the Czech Republic to finish off an incredible comeback, giving Turkey a 3-2 win over the Czech Republic for a spot in the European Championship quarterfinals.
Nihat profited from an unlikely blunder from Petr Cech, one of the world’s greatest goalkeepers, who fumbled a simple cross in the 87th minute. He put the loose ball into the unguarded net to tie it.
With the game seemingly heading for a penalty shootout, the Czech defense fell apart and Nihat scored the decider with a precise inside-foot shot that bounced off the crossbar and into the goal two minutes later.
“Seeing the ball in the nets and knowing that the goal was bringing a win and the quarterfinals, it was an unbelievable feeling,” Nihat said.
He should have grown used to it. Nihat scored the winning goals in the two decisive qualifying games that sent Turkey to Euro 2008. On Sunday, he gave Turkey its biggest victory since reaching the semifinals at the 2002 World Cup.
Cech took the blame for the stunning demise of his team.
“It was my mistake that decided that we have to go home,” the goalkeeper said.
The Czechs were in control 2-0 on goals by Jan Koller and Jaroslav Plasil before Turkey staged its comeback in the rain. Arda Turan scored in the 75th minute before Nihat took charge.
Turkey goalkeeper Volkan Demirel was red-carded in injury time for knocking down Koller. Midfielder Tuncay Sanli replaced him in goal for the final seconds, but did not face a shot.
Turkey plays Croatia in the quarterfinals Friday in Vienna.
“The Turkish national team is in the top eight. Hopefully it will get only better from now on,” coach Fatih Terim said.
“I’m proud that I have players who know that the match ends with the referee’s whistle. We showed to the whole world what kind of a team we are. We had said that we came here to go until the end. We are working to make that goal come true.”
The Czechs scored first when defender Zdenek Grygera crossed into the area for Koller, the nation’s career scoring leader. Even though the towering forward had to lean his 6-foot-7 frame backward, he still got enough power and precision on the header to send it to the upper right corner. Demirel threw himself at the ball, but could only push it onto the underside of the bar and into his net.
The Czechs took a 2-0 lead in the 62nd under a steady rain when Libor Sionko sent a low cross into the area and Plasil threw his whole body sliding into the ball. Again Demirel got a touch of the ball, but not enough to keep it out.
Portugal had already clinched first place in the group and will play the runner-up in Group B on Thursday in Basel. (***) from. www.thejakartapost.com
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