Turkey defeated Croatia 31 on penalty shots in an epic struggle of a soccer match in Euro 2008 Championship play.
Tied after one hundred-twenty minutes of soccer, the game was decided by penalty shots, with Turkey coming from behind for the third time, to advance to the semi-finals.
Turkey took offensive advantage in the first few minutes of the match, keeping the ball in the Croatian end and getting several shots on net. Turkey's team play was first ratethe passes were on-target, and the players maneuvered to create good shots.
At 12 minutes Croatian midfielder Niko Kovač fouled Turkey's star forward Nihat Kahveci at the edge of the penalty area bringing on a free kick for Turkey. Kovač redeemed himself by bravely sacrificing his body, casting himself in the path of the kick, blocking it.
At 18 minutes Croatian midfielder Luka Modrić broke free down the right side of Turkey's penalty area, then laid a perfect cross to forward Ivica Olić. Olić beat Turkish keeper Rüştü Reçber but his shot hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced out into play. Niko Kranjčar had a chance to score on the rebound but couldn't find the handle.
The game was quite physical, and the referees were kept busy, calling forty-six fouls by the end of the match. At 27 minutes, Turkey's Tuncay Şanlı received a yellow card, which would mean, with his total, that he would be forced to sit out the semi-final game should Turkey advance.
The Croatian attackers seemed to be faster than Turkey's defenders; Croatia could send long balls ahead from their own end, and beat the Turks back. Turkey managed to create opportunities with its precision passing, but couldn't finish.
With seconds left in the half, Turkish star Tuncay Şanlı took a kick in the left knee, sending him off the field. His loss would seriously imperil Turkey's chances.
Scoreless Second Half
Three minutes in, Arda Turan was called for a yellow card, his second, which made him ineligible for the semi-final match, as well.
Neither team could dominate the other for the first twenty minutes of the second half. At the seventy-minute mark, Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitić missed a point-blank shot on the Turkish net. Moments later, Rakitić set up Olić for a header form the same range. Neither ball went in, but the Croatians seemed to be gaining the upper hand.
At 82 minutes Croatia's Mladen Petrić was fouled just outside the Turkish penalty area, giving Croatia a free kick. Darijo Srna hooked a beautiful kick at the top right corner, but Turkish keeper Rüştü somehow managed to bat it away with his right hand. Neither the shot nor the save could have been executed better.
With a minute left in regulation play, Rüştü robbed Luka Modrić . Second later, Rakitić almost scored on a free kick, but Rüştü came through again. Then with only seconds left in stoppage time, Ivica Olić had another excellent opportunity, but Rüştü proved unbeatable.
Turkey, bolstered by the amazing goalkeeping of Rüştü Reçber, went to the break tied with Croatia, 00.
Tied After Overtime
Turkey seemed to catch their second wind in the first overtime period, pressing the Croatian defense and sending many shots in at Croatian keeper Stipe Pletikosa.
Two minutes into the second overtime, Turkish defender Emre Aşık got called for a yellow card, which made him the third Turkish player who would be out of the semi-final, should Turkey advance. This was the thirty-eighth foul of the game.
With ten minutes left, Turkey pressed hard on Croatia, apparently finding a bit more energy. In response, Luka Modrić drove all the way up to the Turkish keeper, only to have Rüştü grab the ball of his foot. Turkey seemed to still be able to string passes together, while Croatia seemed to be depending on individual effort.
Both teams were making minor mistakes due to fatigue, but neither side was able to capitalize.
With five minutes to go, Turkey got a free kick from just outside the right side of the Croatian penalty area. Turkey was unable to make anything of it though. Turkish star forward Nihat Kahveci, whom the Turks had been counting on to take free kicks, pulled a muscle on the kick and had to go to the bench. Mid fielder Gökdeniz Karadeniz came in to replace him.
Then, with two minutes of overtime, Croatian forward Ivan Klasnić headed a bouncing ball into the Turkish net as Turkish keeper Rüştü Reçber got caught out of position.
Then, unbelievably, in overtime stoppage time, Turkey worked its comeback magic yet again as Turkish forward Semih Şentürk drove a bullet between two Croatian defenders to tie the game at one. Turkish keeper Rüştü Reçber, whose error at the other end had given Croatia the lead, drove a ball the length of the pitch,
Seconds later the referee whistled the end of play, and the match went to penalty shots.
Turkey Dominates Penalty Kicks
With the game tied after one hundred-twenty minutes of play, UEFA regulations call for the game to be settled by a best-of-five round of penalty kicks.
Luka Modrić, taking the first kick for Croatia, hit the right hand goalpost.
Arda Turan, shooting first for Turkey, beat Croatian keeper Stipe Pletikosa.
Darijo Srna scored for Croatia, and Semih Şentürk scored for Turkey
Rakitic missed on the left side.
Hamit Altıntop scored for Turkey.
Then Rüştü Reçber made a diving save to deny Mladen Petrić, giving Turkey the victory and sending them ahead to the semi-finals.
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