Gregoritsch strike can't save Austria as Türkiye prevail in Leipzig
Türkiye will take on the Netherlands in a quarter-final in Berlin on Saturday after Merih Demiral's double in Leipzig put paid to Austria hopes in the Round of 16.
Austria 1-2 Türkiye
Goals: 0-1 Demiral (1'), 0-2 Demiral 59' (assist: Arda Güler), 1-2 Gregoritsch 66' (assist: Posch)
With many of Austria's contingent in familiar territory at Leipzig's Red Bull Arena, this may have had the feel of a home game for Ralf Rangnick's side. Those surroundings failed to settle Austrian nerves, however, with Türkiye hitting the front with the fastest ever goal in the knockout stages of a Euros. Arda Güler's first-minute corner led to confusion, and a touch of pinball, as Stefan Posch and Christoph Baumgartner struggled to clear their lines. Merih Demiral pounced to fire high into the net. The rollercoaster opening continued, Baumgartner whipping a menacing shot inches wide of the upright. Prior to this encounter, Türkiye had not been beaten by Austria in a competitive game for 36 years. Vincenzo Montella's men appeared well set to extend that record when Güler and Demiral combined to devastating effect once again from a corner in the second half. As the rain teemed down, Rangnick had been ringing the changes and it was substitute Michael Gregoritsch who breathed life back into Austrian hopes, the Freiburg forward converting Stefan Posch's knockdown to reduce the arrears in Saxony. The comeback was then very nearly complete at the death, yet when Mert Günok pulled off one of the saves of the tournament to deny Baumgartner, Türkiye's place in the last eight was secured.
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