Pakistan Information & News

EURO 2008 Turkey have dramatically come from a 2-0 deficit to beat the Czech Republic 3-2 in there EURO 2008 Group A match at the Stade de Geneve on Sunday and goals from Arda Turan and Turkey skipper Nihat Kahvecis two late second half strikes smashed the Czech Republics dreams after Jan Koller and Jaroslav Plasil gave the Czechs a 2-0 lead the game started brightly with the Czech Republic coming close in the first minute of the match but Marek Matejovskys right foot strike went wide of Volkan Demirels goalpost. Turkey were the first to see a booking when Mehmet Topal was shown a yellow card in the 6th minute for a challenge on Jan Polak and Mehmet Aurelio seeing yellow minutes later a booking that will mean he will miss Turkeys next match. The Czechs were starting to take control of the match with a 22-yard shot from Marek Matejovski in the 17^th minute that forced Demirel to dive well to save. Turkeys one shot on target in the first half came in the 31st minute an attempt from Servet Çetin which never really troubled Petr Cech in the Czech goal. Volkan Demirel made another excellent save just after the half hour mark. Marek Jankulovskis cross was met by Libor Sionko but his attempt was somehow parried away by the Turkish keeper and the deadlock was broken with a goal from Czech Republic striker Jan Koller who scored his 55th international goal in the 34^th minute. Koller leapt well to head home Zdenek Grygeras cross with Demirel’s right hand not strong enough to palm the ball away from goal. In the 39^th minute the Czechs were dealt an injury blow with on of the liveliest players on the pitch Marek Matejovsky was stretchered off the pitch. Czech Republic head coach Karel Bruckner replaced him with David Jarolim and the game went into half time 1-0 to the Czech Republic who commanded the 1^st period of the match and deserved the lead at the break. Turkey made a change at half time replacing Senturk with Sarioglu and came out for the second half with far more intent the Turkish captain Nihat Kahveci who was by far Turkeys best performer on the night, saw his acrobatic volley fly a couple of yards over the bar. Despite the added pressure from Turkey the Czechs doubled their lead in the 61^st minute with Jaroslav Plasil scoring an excellent diving strike smashing Libor Sionkos pinpoint cross past Volkan Demeril from just outside the six-yard box to make it 2-0. Turkey pulled a goal back in the 75^th min to give the Turks some hope of reaching the Quarter Finals. Arda Turan scored his second goal of the tournament with a solid right footed shot past Petr Cechs near post from a cross from Hamit Altintop that somehow eluded everyone else in the crowded penalty area bringing the scores to 2,1 with a quarter of an hour to play. The goal had completely contrasting effects on both teams. The Czechs who had dominated the first 75^th min of the match completely fell to pieces while Turkey took control of the game and the Czechs seemed completely stunned by conceding the goal and conceded two late goals in the dying minutes of the match both from the Turkish captain Nihat Kahveci his 1^st came in the 85^th minute with an easy tap-in to make it 2-2 with Kahveci sealing the win just two minutes later in spectacular fashion. The comeback was finished with a brilliant right foot curler from 22 yards after Nihat beat the Czech offside trap with his shot ricocheting off the underside of the crossbar before going in to make it 3-2. There was late drama in injury-time of the match when Turkey goalkeeper Volkan was sent-off for a push on Jan Koller he will miss the Quarter Final. Turkey now progress to the Quarter Finals of EURO 2008 where they meet Group B winners Croatia on Friday June 20.

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