If Turkey felt aggrieved to lose against Brazil in the first phase it now has a chance to take its revenge, after beating Senegal in dramatic fashion last night with a golden goal at Osaka Nagal Stadium in Japan.
A sweet tap-in from substitute Ilhan Mansiz from 10m out was all it took.
Four minutes into extra time, he met a cross from Davala Umit on the right and clipped the ball with his right foot past a static Tony Sylva in the Senegal goal.
PHOTO: AFP
The strike was the key to a World Cup semifinal showdown against Brazil on Wednesday at Saitama Stadium in Japan.
For Turkey Coach Senol Gunes the substitution of captain Hakan Sukur in the second half was an easy decision to make -- considering his poor form -- and it paid off handsomely.
After the match, Senegal Coach Bruno Metsu paid tribute to Turkey. "[They] are a very, very good team with a lot of individual talent playing with some of the biggest clubs in Europe."
He said luck had played a part, but that did not detract from the Turkish performance.
Talking about his own team's performance at the tournament, he said, "I am very, very proud that such a small country can come to the World Cup and really rock the boat among the hierarchy of world football."
Overall, it was an absorbing match that pitted the guile and method of Turkey against the strength and individual flair of the Africans.
Turkey had the best of the first half, asserting control in the middle of the park with its five-man midfield. Partnering Turkey's most-capped player Sukur up front, Hasan Sas provided the spark and most of Turkey's better moves flowed through him.
Three clear chances were created for Sukur in the first half, but he squandered them all.
On 27 minutes he was given two attempts inside the Senegal penalty box to find the net, but got caught in a jam the first time and then fluffed his shot when Sas cleared up and gave him another go.
Later, all he had to do was stick out his foot when Ergun Penbe sped down the right and put in a low cross, but he did not have the speed to get on the end of it.
Senegal, for its part, was ragged at points throughout the match, though it garnered a few chances on the break.
Khalilou Fadiga came closest when he beat goalie Recber Rustu with a fierce shot just inside the box, but unbelievably Henri Camara managed to plant himself behind the 'keeper and saved the ball with his legs. Though the ball was bundled over the line, offside was called.
Turkey's best chance came just before the end of the first half when Sas tipped the ball over the defense for Yildiray Basturk to nod past Tony Sylva in the Senegal goal, but a backtracking Omar Daf cleared off the line.
Senegal was slightly stronger in the second half, but Turkey still dictated play through Sas and Yildiray Basturk.
Both sides managed to put in shots on goal, but neither defense or 'keeper cracked.
Though Senegal almost snatched the game in the dying minutes when El Hadji Diouf broke through, Recber was equal to the task and the game went down to the wire for extra time.
It did not take long after that for Turkish league top striker Mansiz to find the net and send a brave and committed Senegal out of the competition.
Turkey now has its opportunity to depose the Brazilians, after losing 2-1 in Ulsan, South Korea, through a controversial Rivaldo penalty right at the end of the game, after it had gone ahead through Sas.
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