The heavens opened. The rain was pouring down. The pitch was slippery. The players ran like leopards. Hunted for the prey. There was no slowing down.
30 seconds were remaining for Austria to take the match to extra time - just 30 seconds. The battle-hardened boys of Ralph Rangnick put the spirited Turkish on the back foot and produced a desperate cross into the Turkish box from the left by Prass.
Baumgartner took a flight, and jumped the highest, six yards out, on his own. He sent a downward header across Gunok and up towards the top left.
Surely, it was a goal, but the Turkish keeper was possessed by the spirits of Gordon Banks and denied the Austrians on a night that produced football of the highest quality.
Turkey against Austria promised high intensity, noise, pace and an all-out attack - everything was delivered emphatically.
Turkey had been warned about Austria’s habit of scoring inside the first 10 minutes and, when Rangnick’s side poured forward from kick-off, it seemed reasonable to anticipate more of the same.
Turkey responded through the defender Demiral who smashed a loose ball resulting from a corner to become the second-fastest scorer in the tournament's history. Austria was surprised to find out because they had the foot on the right paddle and now, they had to switch the tempo to a higher level.
It was a phenomenal tempo with play ripping from end to end.
Baumgartner almost equalised immediately but drilled just wide. Then a Romano Schmid corner almost wrought an equaliser remarkably similar to the opener, his low delivery running across the face of goal before Demiral somehow bundled clearance.
Austria kept coming back but as the first half developed they were clearly finding difficulties creating space.
Turkey were breaking smartly, brilliant play down the right by Baris Alper Yilmaz begging a cross to the unmarked Kenan Yildiz.
In the event, Yilmaz overcooked it, but he and his teammates had their opponents where they wanted them. Ismael Yuksek drew roars by running back to dispossess a surging Schmid; for all their energy and pressing, Austria had lacked poise when nearing the penalty area. When they did find another opening, Baumgartner stabbed wide.
By the interval, Turkey were broadly in control.
Rangnick switched things up, introducing the offensive left-back Alexander Prass and the giant forward Gregoritsch.
They tore out of the blocks again, Gregoritsch heading wide before Turkey were finally picked apart. Stefan Posch’s ball played Marko Arnautovic in but Gunok, hitherto well-protected, did superbly to block.
At this point Turkey were under a barrage, Konrad Laimer slaloming into the area but skewing wide. Then the right-back Posch saw a shot blocked and Austria were beginning to find an extra man all over the attacking third. But they had not made it count
It arrived shortly after Turkey doubled the lead through Demiral from a set piece and it seemed, game over for Austria.
Austria didn't slow down and finally scored from the corner, Gregoritsch stationed to slam in Posch’s header after Marcel Sabitzer had crossed.
Austria pushed harder.
Sadly, the night belonged to the brave Turkish unit.
Note: Excerpts from the Guardian
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
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