Merih Demiral scored twice as Turkey beat Austria 2-1 in Leipzig to set up a quarter-final clash with Netherlands at Euro 2024.
Austria had gone ahead inside the first 10 minutes in their previous two matches but here they were on the receiving end. Arda Guler, the teenage sensation, whipped in a corner that goalkeeper Patrick Pentz could not deal with and Demiral fired home.
Clocked at just 57 seconds, it was the fastest goal in the history of the European Championship knockout stages. Ralf Rangnick’s Austria had been fancied, particularly given their 6-1 win over Turkey in March, but their opponents rose to the challenge.
Austria were caught cold inside the first minute as they fell behind against Turkey
Marko Arnautovic squandered a great chance to equalise when he failed to lift the ball over the goalkeeper and Austria never did draw level. Demiral nodded in another superb Guler corner just before the hour mark to seemingly put Turkey in total control of the tie.
Substitute Michael Gregoritsch did latch onto a knockdown to pull one back and set up a dramatic finish, but Turkey goalkeeper Mert Gunok produced the save of the tournament to deny Christop Baumgartner in the final moments of a thrilling match.
Austria’s Marko Arnautovic squandered a great chance to equalise against Turkey