Turkey send Swiss packing
11 Jun 2008 - 21:51:22
Co-hosts Switzerland have been eliminated from Euro 2008 after suffering a last-gasp 2-1 defeat to Turkey in a rain-soaked Basel.
The defeat leaves the Swiss unable to progress from Group A, while Turkey go on to face the Czech Republic in a winner-takes-all showdown and Portugal are confirmed as group winners.
There was little action to speak of in the opening minutes of the game, with the most notable event the start of a torrential downpour which left the playing surface covered in puddles.
Gradually the Swiss took the upper hand, with Hakan Yakin finding space on the left and seeing his fierce drive from 25 yards pushed away for a corner by Volkan.
Soon after, the Turkish keeper did superbly to push Tranquillo Barnetta's free-kick away from danger, getting down smartly to his left.
Right on the half-hour mark Nihat's free-kick was palmed back out by Diego Benaglio and deflected off Turan Arda and back against the outside of the post before going out for a goal-kick.
However, Switzerland hit the front soon after as Eren Derdiyok broke the offside trap and rounded the keeper, before laying the ball across the face of goal for Yakin to tap home from a couple of yards.
It should have been two soon after when Valon Behrami played in a superb ball from the right flank, but Yakin sidefooted wide from a couple of yards out at the far post.
Turkey coach Fatih Terim made two changes at the interval and his side gradually began to find their rhythm.
Just before the hour mark the Turks were level as Nihat drifted in a deep cross from the left and sub Semih Senturk headed home at the far post, with Benaglio unable to keep the effort out.
The game then opened up as both sides went looking for a decisive winner and the Swiss looked certain to regain the lead with just seven minutes left to play.
They broke in numbers and seemed certain to score, only for Volkan to parry Yakin's initial shot before reacting superbly to smother the loose ball with Ricardo Cabanas closing in.
That proved to be fatal deep into stoppage time as Turkey powered forward and Arda cut in from the left, with his 20-yard right-foot shot being deflected past the helpless Benaglio.
