BERLIN: Merih Demiral may have scored a historic brace but it was the extraordinary last-gasp save from goalkeeper Mert Gunok that set off wild Turkish celebrations after they reached the Euro 2024 quarter-finals.
Gunok’s dive to his right to palm away a Christoph Baumgartner header from point blank range was the final twist in a breathless match that saw them triumph 2-1 over fancied Austria.
Within minutes, the save from the Besiktas keeper drew comparisons to Gordon Banks’ famous effort to deny Pele at the 1970 World Cup – which is widely seen as the best goalkeeper save in football history.
“We had time to score an equaliser, but it’s difficult when they have Gordon Banks in goal!” Austria coach Ralf Rangnick said.
“It’s like a Gordon Banks replica,” former England player Lee Dixon said on ITV, and Austrian player Michael Gregoritsch named it “one of the best saves I have ever seen.”
Gunok’s heroics clinched a game Demiral had opened with the fastest goal in a Euros knock-out match after 57 seconds. He added the second in the 59th, and all that fancied Austria could manage despite immense pressure was Gregoritsch’s goal in the 65th.
Man of the Match Demiral not only scored but as a centre back threw himself into every Austrian threat, just like the rest of his team as they survived a 20-4 shot ratio against them in rainy Leipzig.“Wait Berlin, our boys are coming! We’re in the quarter-finals,” Turkish broadcasters TRT Spor said as thousands celebrated at home.
The Cup final will be played in Berlin. — Agencies
