Merih Demiral scored a brace as Turkiye sealed a spot in the quarterfinals of Euro 2024 after beating Austria 2-1 at the Leipzig Stadium on Wednesday.
Demiral opened the scoring after 57 seconds after a corner for Turkiye was not properly cleared away by the Austrian defence and goalkeeper Patrick Pentz, causing the ball to fall to Demiral who blasted the ball into an empty net.
This was the second-fastest goal in European Championship history, second only to Albania’s Nedim Bajrami, who scored in his side’s group-stage match against Italy, earlier in the competition.
AS IT HAPPENED | AUSTRIA VS TURKIYE HIGHLIGHTS, EURO 2024
Demiral doubled his tally in the 59th minute after rising the highest inside the penalty box to head in Arda Guler’s cross from the a corner kick, at the near post.
Seven minutes later Michael Gregoritsch got one back for Austria after a corner from Marcel Sabitzer was flicked into the far post with a header by Stefan Posch, where Gregoritsch had an easy tap-in.
Turkiye will face Netherlands in the quarterfinal.
More to follow…
