Turkey's Merih Demiral scored twice, once in each half, to lead his team to a thrilling 2-1 win over Austria on Tuesday, securing their place in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024. The central defender opened the scoring after just 57 seconds and then headed in another goal shortly before the 60-minute mark, setting up a quarter-final match against the Netherlands in Berlin on Saturday. The Dutch had earlier defeated Romania 3-0.
For Austria, considered dark horses in the tournament, it was a disappointing end to their European Championship campaign. They managed to reduce the deficit through Michael Gregoritsch in the second half, but are still awaiting their first knockout win in a major tournament since 1954. Turkey took an early lead in a high-paced start when Demiral capitalized on a goalmouth scramble to score the fastest goal in a European Championship knockout match.
Turkey, who had lost 6-1 to Austria in March, were content to let Austria have possession but maintained a high press with a 5-4-1 formation, aiming to catch their opponents on the counter and disrupt their typical straightforward playing style. Despite the absence of suspended captain Hakan Calhanoglou, Turkey, semifinalists in Euro 2008, managed to keep Austria at bay, with the latter failing to register a shot on target in the first half.
Austria rallied after halftime and had a chance to equalize six minutes into the second half when Marko Arnautovic was through on goal, but his shot was blocked by Mert Gunok. Instead, it was Turkey who scored again, with Demiral heading home for a 2-0 lead in the 59th minute. In the rain, Austria scored a consolation goal through Gregoritsch in the 66th minute, but despite late pressure and a golden opportunity for Christoph Baumgartner, who was denied by a superb save from Gunok in stoppage time, they could not find an equalizer.
