Turkey produced one of the great comeback in European Championship
Nihat Kahveci scored twice in the final three minutes as Turkey rallied from a two-goal deficit in the last 15 minutes to stun the Czech Republic, 3-2, on Sunday and advance to the quarterfinals of Euro 2008. Arda Turan, who scored the game winner in injury time in Wednesday's 2-1 win over Switzerland, started the comeback with his second of the tournament in the 75th minute.
Nihat tied the match in the 87th after a mistake by Czech Republic goalie Petr Cech, widely considered the top player in the world at his position. Nihat beat Cech again two minutes later with a great shot off the bottom of the crossbar. Turkey (2-1-0), which played the final seconds with 10 players after goalkeeper Volkan Demirel was ejected in injury time, plays Group B winner Croatia on Friday.
The Czech Republic (1-2-0), which took the 2-0 lead on goals by Jan Koller and Jaroslav Plasil, was eliminated in the rain at Stade de Geneve. Portugal had already clinched Group A entering Sunday's final games and dropped a 2-0 decision to co-host Switzerland with many of its regulars on the bench.
Turkey and the Czech Republic didn't have the same luxury, with both countries needing a win to advance to the knockout stage. If the teams were tied after 90 minutes, the first penalty kick shootout in Euro finals history would have been needed to decide which team advanced. The Czech's took the first step toward avoiding the shootout when Koller scored off a header in the 34th minute. The 6-foot-7 striker got under a cross from Zdenek Gyrgera and headed off the hand of Demirel and into the upper left for his 55th career international goal.
Turkey started to take control of the match early in the second half but Koller had the first of two quick chances by the Czech Republic in the 61st minute on a breakaway before Plasil doubled the lead one minute later. Libor Sionko delivered a cross from the right side and Plasil slid in around a defender to stab at the ball and direct it off Demirel and inside the left post in the 62nd minute. The Czech Republic had a chance to push its lead to three goals in the 71st but Jan Polak hit the right post.
Turkey started its improbable rally four minutes later when Turan scored off a cross from Hamit Altintop. The ball was crossed through the area and Turan ran onto the pass on the left side of the area and he drilled a shot off of Cech's fingertips and inside the left post. The goal sparked Turkey and it continued to pressure until it finally broke the Czech's defense - and Cech two more times in the closing minutes.
Altintop also the delivered the cross on the second goal, which slipped out of Cech's hands and dropped right to Nihat at the top of the six-yard box. Nihat quickly poked the ball into the empty net with Cech out of the way to tie the game. With the Czech Republic noticeably rattled, Turkey and Nihat capped the rally two minutes later. Altintop also set up the final goal, finding Nihat behind the Czech's defense. Nihat did well to stay onside and, with Cech charging off his line, hit a perfect shot over the goalie and off bottom of the crossbar.
Turkey had complete control entering injury time, but the match took another twist two minutes into extra time when Demirel was shown a red card for shoving Koller to the ground. Turkey midfielder Tuncay Sanli was forced to move into goal because the country had used all of its substitutes. The Czech's failed to take advantage, though, and Sanli didn't have to handle the ball before the final whistle sounded and Turkey held on for the amazing win. Turkey ended a four-game losing skid to the Czech Republic, which had won three of the last four meetings between the countries. 15/06/08
| 
