Merih Demiral Double sends Turkey to Euro 2024 quarters at Austria’s expense

Merih Demiral was Turkey’s unlikely hero with both goals in Tuesday’s 2-1 victory over Austria to book their place in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals. The Al-Ahli centre-back scored in the 58th minute. seconds and headed in the 60th minute to increase Turkey’s lead. Michael Gregoritsch quickly scored for Austria and only a stunning save from Mert Gunok denied Christoph Baumgartner a dramatic injury-time equalizer. Turkey advance to face the Netherlands in the round of 16 in Berlin on Saturday. Austria emerged as underdogs by going deep on the seemingly weaker side of the draw after topping a group that included France and the Netherlands.

Ralf Rangnick’s team also beat Turkey 6-1 in a friendly in March, but this time they were unable to recover from a nightmare start.

Real Madrid’s Arda Guler was a constant threat to the Austrian defense and his provocative corner kick caused chaos in the first minute.

Baumgartner’s clearance off the line hit teammate Stefan Posch, and goalkeeper Patrick Pentz squared it to Demiral, who slotted the ball into the roof of the net for the second-fastest goal ever at a European Championship.

Turkey’s raucous fans erupted into a deafening celebration, but were almost brought back to earth immediately.

Baumgartner fired inches wide from the edge of the box before Demiral somehow prevented the RB Leipzig midfielder from scoring at home as a dangerous Austrian corner crossed the goal.

Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella said captain Hakan Calhanoglu, absent due to suspension, was “irreplaceable”.

However, Guler took responsibility in the playmaking role and almost produced a stunning second for his team with an audacious attempt from midfield that went wide.

Only Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands have had a higher win percentage in European football since Rangnick took charge of Austria two years ago.

Gunok to the rescue

The former Manchester United manager made two changes at half-time, including the addition of Gregoritsch, who scored three goals when the teams met three months ago.

Rangnick got the reaction he wanted when Austria began to cut into the Turkish defence.

Gunok spread brilliantly to deny Marko Arnautovic one-on-one, before Bayern Munich’s Konrad Laimer missed the finish for a good move through the middle.

However, they did not learn their lesson from Guler’s corners as another inviting delivery was delivered by Demiral.

In doing so, the 26-year-old became the first European defender to score two goals in the knockout stages of a major tournament since Lillian Thuram for France at the 1998 World Cup.

It was also a set piece at the other end that put Austria back into the game seven minutes later.

Posch took a corner from Marcel Sabitzer for Gregoritsch to sweep high into the net.

Torrential rain failed to dampen the sensational atmosphere in Leipzig, with Germany’s huge Turkish expat population once again making it a home game for Montella’s men.

The fervent atmosphere soured when Sabitzer was hit by an object thrown by the crowd as he prepared to take a corner.

Baris Alper Yilmaz was denied a third for Turkey by a fine injury-time save from Pentz.

This almost proved crucial as Gunok had to make a remarkable save to prevent Baumgartner’s header from finding the far corner.

It was an incredible save reminiscent of English goalkeeper Gordon Banks’ iconic save against Pelé in the 1970 World Cup.

But Turkey held firm amid Austria’s aerial bombardment to reach the quarter-finals of a major tournament for the first time since Euro 2008.

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