Frank Christian
Merih Demiral emerged as the unexpected hero, scoring twice to lead Turkey to a thrilling 2-1 victory over Austria in the Euro 2024 Round of 16.
Both teams, known for their exciting style of play, engaged in an intense battle from the start in Leipzig.
Demiral scored the fastest goal ever in the Euro knockout stages off a corner, setting the tone for a high-energy match.
Austria pushed for an equalizer, but Demiral extended Turkey’s lead with another goal from a set-piece. Austria kept fighting and managed to pull one back through substitute Michael Gregoritsch.
Turkey’s defense, led by Demiral, withstood Austria’s late surge, and goalkeeper Mert Gunok made a remarkable save in the final moments to deny Austria a chance to level the game.
With just three days to recover, Turkey gears up to face the Netherlands in the quarterfinals, following their impressive win against Austria.
Match Summary
| Fulltime | Goal scorers | |
| Austria | 1 | Gregoritsch 66′ |
| Turkey | 2 | Demiral 1′, 59′ |
Venue: Red Bull Arena, Leipzig
Referee: Artur Soares Dias (POR)
Lineups:
Austria (4-2-3-1, right to left): 13. Pentz (GK) — 5. Posch, 15. Lienhart (2. Wober), 4. Danso, 16. Mwene (8. Prass) — 6. Seiwald, 9. Sabitzer — 20. Laimer (10. Grillitsch), 19. Baumgartner, 18. Schmid (11. Gregoritsch)— 7. Arnautovic.
Turkey (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Gunok (GK) — 18. Muldur, 3. Demiral, 14. Bardakci, 20. Kadioglu — 16. Yuksek (15. Ozcan), 22. Ayhan — 21. Yilmaz, 6. Kokcu (17. Kahveci), 19. Yildiz (7. Akturkoglu) — 8. Guler (5. Yokuslu).
Match Updates and Highlights
Fulltime
Turkey secures a memorable victory with Demiral’s standout performance, setting up a quarterfinal clash against the Netherlands. Austria fought valiantly but couldn’t break through Turkey’s resilience.
90+5 mins: Gunok makes a stunning save to deny Austria a late equalizer. The tension is palpable as the game nears its end.
90+4 mins: Yilmaz threatens to seal the match but is denied by a great save from Pentz.
90+3 mins: The game reaches a frantic pace with both teams pushing for a breakthrough.
90+1 mins: Four minutes added on, with Turkey defending desperately as Austria presses for a goal.
89 mins: End-to-end action as both teams create chances in a nail-biting finish to the game.
86 mins: Austria continues to pile on the pressure but fails to convert their chances.
84 mins: Turkey’s defense holds firm against Austria’s relentless attacks.
81 mins: Kokcu sustains a hamstring injury, forcing an early substitution as the game intensifies.
79 mins: Austria struggles to break through Turkey’s defense as the clock ticks away.
78 mins: An unfortunate incident halts play momentarily as Sabitzer is hit by an object thrown from the crowd.
77 mins: Turkey makes defensive changes to thwart Austria’s threatening attacks.
75 mins: Gunok continues to impress in goal, repelling Austria’s long-range efforts.
72 mins: As rain pours down, Austria bombards Turkey’s box with crosses, testing Gunok’s resilience.
66 mins: GOAL!!!!! Gregoritsch scores for Austria, breathing new life into the match.
The game is wide open as both teams struggle to contain each other’s attacks.
## Austria vs. Turkey: Exciting Euro 2024 Match Updates
### **First Half Kicks Off**
At the start of the game, Austria struggled as Turkey’s Merih Demiral scored within a minute. The two teams fiercely battled each other as the pace slowed towards the end of the first half.
### **Halftime Analysis**
Despite Baumgartner’s attempt for Austria, Turkey maintained their 1-0 lead at halftime. The intensity of the match favored Turkey as they closed in on securing a spot in the quarterfinals.
### **Second Half Begins**
As the second half commenced, Austria made strategic changes to counter Turkey’s lead. The game remained intense with both teams pushing for a breakthrough.
### **Key Moments in the Match**
Throughout the match, there were significant moments such as Guler’s corner leading to Demiral’s goal, Kadioglu’s shot saved by Pentz, and Gunok’s crucial save from Arnautovic.
### **Late Changes and Strategies**
Austria made substitutions to rejuvenate their attack, aiming to turn the game around. Turkey showcased resilience in defense, thwarting Austria’s advances.
### **Impending Quarterfinal Consequences**
With a potential quarterfinal clash looming, both teams faced challenges, especially with multiple players on the brink of suspension due to accumulated yellow cards.
### **Team Strategies and Formations**
The teams’ tactical decisions and formations played a crucial role in shaping the outcome of the match, with each side adapting to counter the other’s strengths.
### **Pre-match Insights**
Initially, Austria held the upper hand, having dominated Turkey in a previous friendly encounter. However, the current match showcased a more balanced and competitive dynamic between the two teams.
### **Anticipation and Expectations**
As the match unfolded, fans and analysts eagerly awaited the outcome, anticipating a thrilling conclusion as Austria and Turkey vied for a spot in the quarterfinals.**Austria vs. Turkey: EURO 2024 Knockout Match Preview**
**50 Minutes before Kickoff**: Expect an exciting game with Real Madrid’s Arda Guler and Juventus’ Kenan Yildiz leading the way for Turkey.
**1 Hour 5 Minutes before Kickoff**: The Netherlands secured a 3-0 victory with a late double from Donyell Malen. Will Austria step up to set up a rematch with the Dutch?
**1 Hour 30 Minutes before Kickoff**: The winner faces the victor from the ongoing quarterfinal in Munich. The Netherlands lead Romania 1-0, but can they hold on?
**2 Hours before Kickoff**: Austria has been impressive at Euro 2024. Can they continue to play aggressively against Turkey, or will Arda Guler shine for the Turkish team?
**Austria vs. Turkey Kickoff Time**: The game starts on July 2 at 9:00 p.m. local time in Germany.
**Austria vs. Turkey Lineups and Team News**: Austria makes a change due to a suspension, while Turkey reshuffles their team after two players received suspensions.
**Austria vs. Turkey Live Stream, TV Channel**: Catch the match on various channels globally for an exciting viewing experience.
**USA:** FOX broadcasts the game, stream on Fubo with a free trial available.
**UK:** Watch it on ITV platforms.
**Canada:** TSN channels will air the match.
**Australia:** Optus Sport is the exclusive broadcaster in Australia.
**India:** JioTV/SonyLiv provide coverage for all Euro matches.
