Turkey Go to Quarters after Stunning Fightback against Czechs

Sports | June 16, 2008, Monday // 00:00
Turkey Go to Quarters after Stunning Fightback against Czechs: Turkey Go to Quarters after Stunning Fightback against Czechs Turkey stunned the Czech Republic on Sunday scoring three times in the last 15 minutes to win 3-2. Photo by gong.bg

In one of the most unlikely turnarounds in Euro 2008 until now, Turkey stunned the Czech Republic scoring three times in the last 15 minutes to win 3-2 on Sunday.

"To lose such a match is incredible. There were 15 minutes left when the first goal went in and they just kept coming until we lost " Czech Coach Karel Bruckner said after the match.

"We buckled under the pressure. It is going to take many nights to get over this," the manager added.

The Czechs seemed on their way to the quarterfinals having built a 2-0 lead with just over an hour gone on goals by striker Jan Koller and midfielder Jaroslav Plasil.

But fatal errors from Petr Cech, said to be one of the world's top keepers, allowed the Turks to mount their comeback.

Arda Turan scored at Cech's near post with a fierce shot in the 75th minute while captain Nihat Kahveci equalised with three minutes to play after the keeper fumbled a routine cross.

Two minutes later, Kahveci blasted an improbable winner from the edge of the penalty area, the ball going in off the underside of the crossbar.

With the Czechs knocked out of the tournament Turkey meets Croatia at the quarterfinals in Vienna on June 20.

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