Emre Belozoglu netted an equaliser from the penalty spot to spare Turkey a damaging home defeat in their World Cup qualifier against Belgium on Wednesday. The Fenerbahce midfielder levelled the scores with 16 minutes to go in Istanbul as the Turks the comeback kings at Euro 2008 battled back again. Wesley Sonck had earlier given the visitors the lead with his third goal of the campaign, adding to the brace he bagged in his side's unconvincing 3-2 win over Estonia in their Group Five opener at the weekend.
Wesley Sonck had earlier given the visitors the lead with his third goal of the campaign, adding to the brace he bagged in his side's unconvincing 3-2 win over Estonia in their Group Five opener at the weekend.
Belgium started the stronger and Jan Vertonghen could have given them the lead in the 29th minute, curling a shot from outside the area just over the bar. And the away side did make the breakthrough just two minutes later as Club Brugge hitman Sonck headed home Vertonghen's cross from eight yards. Semih Senturk and Arda Turan both produced saves from Belgium keeper Stijn Stijnen at the other end, the former with a header and the Arda with a shot from Emre's cross.
Semih again went close after the break as his header flew narrowly over the bar, while Halil Altintop's effort was ruled out for offside in the 69th minute as Turkey continued to search in vain for an equaliser. Their efforts bore fruit in the 74th minute though when Axel Witsel was penalised for handball in the area and Emre fired home from the spot to leave both sides on four points after two games.
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