Soccer: Terrific Turkey back on track

Revived challenge
Gündüz Tekin Onay’s team bounced back from their 1-0 loss against Spain on Tuesday with a fine display that reinvigorated their hopes of finishing in the top two in Group A to earn a place in the semi-finals. Turkey joined Spain, who lost 1-0 to France in the other game in the section, on three points and must now better Spain’s result in the final group game on Sunday to progress to the last four. Turkey play France in Amboise, while Spain take on Northern Ireland in St-Cyr-sur-Loire.

Turkish dominance
In front of 2,239 spectators at the Stade Jules Ladoumègue, Turkey dominated the first 40 minutes. Although Michael O’Connor had an early chance, the first half was otherwise completely controlled by Turkey, who produced a skilful and dynamic display. Turkish captain Cafer Can Aksu was the star of the show and was at the heart of his side’s most incisive moves. It was little surprise that the Galatasaray SK midfield player was an integral part of the passing sequence from which Ergin Keles opened the scoring with a fine shot in the 14th minute.

Goal flurry
Turkey doubled their lead eight minutes later as Northern Ireland goalkeeper Jonathan Tuffey was unable to hold on to the ball and Denis Yilmaz was perfectly placed to make it 2-0 from close range. A minute later it was three, Aksu getting on the scoresheet himself as he broke down the right and beat Tuffey with another accurate strike. Three could have become four in the 26th minute as Christopher Turner fouled Aksu inside the penalty area, but Tuffey dived full-length to his left to tip Kürsat Ergün Aydin’s spot-kick behind for a corner.

One-way traffic
It was 4-0 five minutes before half-time, however, Keles bursting through the centre of the defence to score his second of the match. Aksu then came close to scoring his second and Turkey’s fifth in the last minute of the half, but Dominic Melly cleared another goalbound effort off the line.

Three substitutions
With the match over as a contest, Northern Ireland coach Kenny Shiels made three changes at the break and was rewarded within two minutes as Turner pulled a goal back from the penalty spot with a calm kick down the centre of the goal following a handball.

Narrow escapes
The tactical switches made the second half a completely different proposition, Northern Ireland dominating, but were unable to close the gap any further. Indeed, both Turkey’s Gürhan Gürsoy and substitute Güven Güneri had chances to restore their side’s four-goal cushion, Güneri seeing an effort rebound off the crossbar.

O’Connor reward
Another replacement, Oguy Sabankay, did make it five with six minutes remaining before two minutes into added time, O’Connor got the goal his overall performance had merited. The midfield player beat Volkan Babacan with a low shot, but the points had long since slipped away.