Sign in
Logging
HAMBURG, Germany (AP) — Cenk Tosun nonetheless calmed the tension when he scored in stoppage time to send Turkey into the last 16 of the European Championship with a 2-1 victory over the 10-man Czech Republic. Wednesday.
As the Czechs chased a goal that would have qualified at Turkey’s expense, substitute Tosun eluded two exhausted defenders on the left and fired a powerful shot at the post.
This sparked a wave of celebrations among most of the fans at Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion, but also a fight between players and substitutes running around the pitch. Czech striker Tomas Chory received a red card after the rampage, and team captain Tomas Soucek and Turkey’s Arda Guler received yellow cards.
It was a busy night for Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs, who sent off Czech midfielder Antonin Barak in the 20th minute. Barak earned his first yellow card for a tactical foul in the 11th minute, and then the next for a stomp on Salih Ozcan’s foot.
This encouraged Turkey to attack in waves. Kenan Yildiz, Hakan Calhanoglu and Guler were serious for the Czech defense.
The Czech attack was without its star Patrik Schick, who could not due to a calf injury. Schick was cautioned for protesting on the bench. This would be his only contribution.
Calhanoglu broke the impasse with a low shot inside the post in the 51st minute. Czech goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek had made a brilliant save to avoid Mert Muldur, but he couldn’t stretch for Calhanoglu’s hard shot.
Stanek was unable to continue due to an obvious shoulder injury after his initial stoppage. Bayer Leverkusen backup goalkeeper Matej Kovar took his place.
Soucek equalised in the 66th minute after a scrum on the goal in which the ball went off the line. A VAR check showed that goalkeeper Mert Gunok had not been unfairly hindered.
The Czechs needed a goal to progress, but Tosun’s goal ended their hopes.
The Czech Republic finished last in Group F Georgia, who disappointed organ-winners Portugal with a 2-0 win to move up among the more sensible organisations to third place.
Turkey finished with six points.
___
AP Euro 2024: https://apnews. com/hub/euro-2024
The Associated Press
© 2024 North Coast News