Turkey advanced to the UEFA European Championship quarter-finals at the expense of the impressive Austria thanks to a “worldie” of a save from Besiktas goalkeeper Mert Gunok in the dying moments of the game. The crucial stop, which helped Turkey hold on to a narrow 2-1 lead, has been dubbed the “save of the tournament” while the effort has been considered “one of the greatest in Euros history”.
Koeman says Netherlands cannot afford to drop ‘level’ after ‘outstanding’ display
Turkey returned to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 for the first time since 2008 after defeating the in-form Austria in an electric last-16 tie on Tuesday, thanks to a last-ditch wonder save from goalkeeper Mert Gunok.
Merih Demiral struck the fastest goal in Euros knockouts – 57 seconds into the game – to put Turkey ahead in an action-packed encounter before the defender doubled their lead on the hour mark.
Austria hit back through Michael Gregoritsch just seven minutes later as Ralf Rangnick’s side threatened to force extra-time with a flurry of late attacks.
With 95 minutes on the clock, Christoph Baumgartner latched onto a looping cross from the left with a towering header on the edge of the six-yard box, but his close-range effort was emphatically denied by Gunok, with a save dubbed “one of the greatest in Euros history”.
Speaking to ITV after the match, former England player Joleon Lescott labelled the stop from the Besiktas star as “save of the tournament”.
“The agility, composure and strength to not only keep it out of the net but to push it away is amazing,” he said as he reviewed the brilliant stop. “It is an amazing save. Save of the tournament.”
Thanks to Gunok’s stunning piece of goalkeeping in the dying seconds of the game, Vincenzo Montella’s side will now face the Netherlands for a shot at a place in the semi-finals.
On Turkey’s overall performance to beat Austria, Lescott added: “It was organised chaos. There was a real structure to their counter-attacks.”
Ex-Arsenal and England defender Lee Dixon called Gunok a “rock at the back” for Turkey thanks to his “worldie” of a save.
“Fully deserved for Turkey,” he said on ITV. “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.
“Brilliant game of football.”
Former Blackburn Rovers and Chelsea forward Chris Sutton was also left impressed by Turkey and Gunok, who etched his name into the Euros history books.
“The way Turkey dug in at the end of that game, Austria pummelled them but they showed that spirit and got over the line,” he told the BBC.
“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.”
Turkey take on Ronald Koeman’s side on Saturday, July 6, as the nation look to reach the semi-finals for only the second time in their history.
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