TOSUN SNATCHES LATE WINNER AS TURKEY PROGRESS
Turkey booked their spot in the Last 16 for the first time since 2008 as substitute Cenk Tosun secured a last-gasp 2-1 win that saw the 10-man Czech Republic crash out of Euro 2024.
Vincenzo Montella’s Crescent-Stars only had to avoid defeat to progress to the latter stages and their hopes were buoyed on 20 minutes when Antonin Barak was given his marching orders for two quick-fire yellow cards.
Turkey then looked to be cruising following the interval when captain Hakan Çalhanoglu rifled them in front on 51 minutes with a superb first-time strike from the left side of the area.
However, West Ham’s Tomas Soucek pounced upon an error from goalkeeper Mert Gunok just past the hour to set up a barnstorming finale.
The Czechs threw everything at the Turkish penalty area but could not provide the late twist to stay alive in the competition, and Tosun finished off the job with a fine finish in stoppage time.
The result sees Turkey finish second in Group F with Georgia’s surprise win over pool winners Portugal seeing them progress as one of the best third-placed teams. The Czechs, who reached the last eight in the previous Euros, end up rock bottom and head home early.
Turkey will now meet Austria in the last 16 next Tuesday.
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