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By Mike Collett
GENEVA, June 15 (Reuters) - Turkey staged one of the
greatest comebacks in a major tournament, scoring three times in
the last 15 minutes to beat Czech Republic 3-2 on Sunday to
reach the quarter-finals of Euro 2008.
Fatih Terim's side looked down and out with 62 minutes gone
as they trailed to goals from Jan Koller and Jaroslav Plasil.
But two uncharacteristic errors from Petr Cech, one of the
world's top keepers, allowed the Turks to mount their comeback.
Arda Turan scored at Cech's near post after 75 minutes
before Turkey captain Nihat Kahveci equalised with three minutes
to play after the keeper fumbled a routine cross.
Nihat swept the ball into the empty net to equalise as
several Czech players fell to the ground in despair.
Suddenly, with penalties looking a certainty, another
mistake at the back allowed Nihat through and he lashed in the
winner from 25 metres off the underside of the bar.
More drama followed when Turkey keeper Volkan Demirel was
sent off in stoppage time for an off-the-ball push on Koller.
Midfielder Tuncay Sanli went in goal for the closing stages
but Turkey held on to seal a meeting with Croatia in the last
eight in Vienna on Friday.
Volkan and Mehmet Aurelio, who picked up his second booking
of the tournament, will be suspended though.
GREAT PERFORMANCE
"I congratulate my team for their great performance," said
Terim. "It rained once again and we had to sweat once again.
"I send my love and greetings home to Turkey. Go out and
celebrate, go out on the streets and savour this feeling.
"My players are going to celebrate now too. They deserve it.
I said we'll be remembered for this."
The game marked the end of 35-year-old Koller's Czech career
and the team's all-time leading scorer looked shattered as he
walked off the field for the last time.
Nothing could have been further from his mind when he nodded
his side in front in the 34th minute with his 55th goal in his
90th appearance.
A bad miss after 60 minutes, just before the second goal,
will haunt him even though Plasil made it 2-0 two minutes later
when he swept in a low cross.
Turkey ended with six points in Group A, three ahead of the
Czechs, who were eliminated along with co-hosts Switzerland.
Portugal, who fielded a reserve side against the Swiss,
finished top despite a 2-0 defeat in Basel on Sunday.
Czech coach Karel Brueckner looked every one of his 68 years
when he sat in stunned disbelief in front of reporters after his
last match in charge before retiring.
"To lose such a game is incredible, even with four minutes
to go we were winning 2-1," he said. "To concede two goals in
the last three minutes is unbelievable.
"You cannot make mistakes like that and expect to win games.
We made mistakes for the second and third goals and did not
defend well.
"You can't play like that. In the end we surrendered to
Turkey's pressure."
(Editing by Tony Jimenez)
