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Turkey v Czech Republic - 20 Minutes of Madness |
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Written by Administrator
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Sunday, 15 June 2008 |
Turkey played the Czech Republic in Geneva in a make or break game to progress to the next round of Euro 2008. Before the match both teams had the same number of points and goal difference meaning that if the game ended a draw then the football match would progress to a penalty shootout to decide who goes through.
It was all square until the 34th minute when Jan Koller scored the first in the match with a great header for the Czech Republic to take the lead which they kept going into the second half.
The Czech Republic were all over the Turkisk players after the start of the second half and it was inevitable that eventually it was going to be 2-0 in the 62nd minute of the match it was. Jaroslav Plasil providing the breathing space for the Czechs after connecting with Sionko's cross.
It looked like the match was essentially all over as the Czech Republic players swarmed over the Turkish half. However, in the 75th minute Turkey pulled a goal back through Arda Turan bringing the match alive and making it all to play for again.
After that it was Turkish pressure all the way, desperate to get at least a second goal to get to the penalty shootouts. They nearly made it 2 all in the 82nd minute when Servet jumped to catch a cross from Hamit but his glancing header was a real let-off for the Czechs when he failed to find the net.
However for the Turkish fans redemption came in the 86th minute when what looked like it should be a fairly simple save saw Cech drop the ball and Nihat slot it away.
The 88th minute saw another for Turkey in one of the best comebacks ever in a UEFA Euro Tournament when Nihat scored another to make it 3-2.
Demirel, the Turkish goalkeeper was send off in the 91st minute after pushing Koller over which will surely have repercussions for them in the next round.
The last few fevered minutes saw Milan Baros on the bench getting yellow-carde but couldn't see the Czech Republic get their third and the game ended with Turkey going through 3-2 in a game where it just didn't seem possible most of the match. It's a pity it had to end really there was so much excitement in the last 10 minutes. A match with everything and plenty of drama!
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