July 3 – Turkey versus Austria is a historical rivalry based on religion, land, trade routes, and tonight in the Red Bull Arena Leipzig, the ‘Beautiful Game’.
With a 6-1 hiding of the Turks just three months ago in a friendly, Ralf Rangnick, was keen to snuff out any overconfidence.
In contrast, his opposite number, Vincenzo Montella said, “it was a humiliating result on a personal level but that was another match, and this one is a different matter.” He wasn’t wrong!
The only way to describe the first 20 minutes is to picture a pair of rutting rhinos, such was the ferocity that these two teams tore into each other. It was Formula One on steroids, a heavyweight boxing clash, just sheer exhilaration with an ear-splitting soundtrack to boot that at times was nothing more than a primal noise.
Straight from the kick-off, Austria flew en-masse into Turkey’s penalty area, who responded by going straight down the other end to win a corner. Arda Guler, the darling of the Turkish national team swung in a fiendish delivery that Cristoph Baumgartner could not deal with and the rebound dropped to Merih Demiral who lashed it into the roof of the net. Cue left off in Leipzig.
Back came Austria through Baumgartner and his twenty-five-yarder was inches away from finding the bottom corner with Mert Gunok well beaten in the Turkish goal.
Two minutes later, Romano Schmid whipped in a set piece and the ball evaded a phalanx of bodies before finding Baumgartner at the far post but he couldn’t squeeze it home. Referee Artur Dias gets the voice from VAR. Did Demiral kick his man? No! We play on!
There is no time to catch a breath, someone has to slow down this track meet, and Turkey cede possession to Austria who look tidy but can’t find the killer ball.
Patience is the key but there’s no room for that vice, not when there is football to be played, and it’s Turkey who are playing the majority of it as Austria for the first time in the tournament seem winded.
The Turkish support pushes the decibel meter to 115…it’s 45 minutes of madness. How it is only 1-0 is a mystery as Dias blows his whistle for half-time.
The second half began in the same fashion as the first, however, it was Austria who was making all the running. Captain, Marco Arnautovic was becoming more influential and it looked like the next goal would have to come from the team in red.
The heavens then opened. It had to be God crying with tears of joy at this incredible spectacle.
Then in the 59th minute, Baris Yilmaz finally released the pressure and won a corner. Guler went over to take it and was met with a fusillade of cups. Was the youngster fazed, not one bit as his corner was hit with pace and whip towards the near post where Demiral rose like a phoenix to bullet a header past Patrick Pentz who stood no chance.
Austria was truly on the ropes, dazed and all but knocked out but they had just enough clarity to throw a punch. In the 66th minute, Marcel Sabitzer’s corner was flicked on by Stefan Posch, and 2nd half substitute, Michael Gregoritsch was on hand to smash it home from 3 yards out.
Now Rangnick’s men had truly cleared their heads and with Turkey sitting back, the team in red were camped out in the final third in desperate search of the equalizer that the neutral so desperately wanted.
Crosses were coming from all angles but the Turkish backline was quite literally throwing their bodies on the line and the Austrians couldn’t get that clean look.
The 4th official signaled four minutes, it went in a flash. Ferdi Kadioglu broke away, it was the last minute versus Georgia replayed, except Pentz made a brilliant stop. The ball made its way to Posch and his cross was met by Baumgartner, six yards out. His downward header was goalbound but somehow, Gunok, pulled off the save of his life clawing the ball around the post.
Turkey had done it! Their entire squad, staff, and management invaded the pitch making a beeline for Gunok, while the Turkish support went ballistic.
The most breathtaking ninety-plus minutes you could ever wish to see. The match of the tournament and Turkey will now play the Dutch in Berlin on Saturday. Austria will go home having played their part in this feast and the future looks bright for them.
The final word though has to go to Turkey. They’ve been involved in three thrillers. Georgia, Czech Republic and now, Austria. Is this a team of destiny? If you believe their support, the answer has to be yes.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1732289755labto1732289755ofdlr1732289755owedi1732289755sni@o1732289755fni1732289755