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Demiral's brace secures Türkiye's contention for the semi-final round
In a thrilling encounter at Leipzig's Red Bull Arena, Turkey scripted a memorable chapter in their European Championship history with a scintillating 2-1 victory over Austria in the round of 16.
Merih Demiral emerged as the hero of the night, netting a historic brace to propel the Crescent-Stars into their first Euro quarter-final in 16 years.
The match burst into life right from the kickoff, as Austria launched an early assault only to find themselves trailing within a minute. Arda Güler's corner caused chaos in the Austrian defense, with Patrick Pentz parrying the ball into the path of Demiral, who coolly dispatched it into the net.
This lightning-fast goal not only set a new record for the fastest goal scored in a Euros knockout match but also set the tone for a frenetic first half.
Austria, undeterred by the early setback, pushed forward relentlessly, with Christoph Baumgartner narrowly missing the target with a powerful strike from outside the box.
Both teams showcased their attacking intent, but it was Turkey who capitalized on their set-piece prowess again. Another dangerous corner from Güler found Demiral, whose emphatic header left Pentz rooted to the spot, doubling Turkey's lead.
Despite the deficit, Austria fought back valiantly, with substitute Michael Gregoritsch setting up a nervy finale by converting Stefan Posch's knockdown from a Marcel Sabitzer corner.
The tension escalated as Das Team threw everything forward in search of an equalizer, but Turkey's defense held firm, aided by an outstanding last-minute save from goalkeeper Mert Günok.
For Austria, the disappointment was palpable after an impressive group stage campaign where they topped a challenging Group D. However, it was Turkey who emerged victorious, showcasing resilience and clinical finishing to advance to a tantalizing quarter-final clash against the Netherlands.
As the final whistle blew, jubilant scenes erupted among the Turkish contingent, celebrating a hard-fought victory that etched their name into the Euro history books once more.
The Crescent-Stars' journey continues with renewed optimism and belief as they aim to make further strides in the tournament, buoyed by Demiral's match-winning heroics and a collective determination to create more memorable moments on the European stage.
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