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Netherlands2 - 1Turkey

sportsmole.co.uk, 6 July 2024, 21:38
Netherlands secured their spot in the semi-finals of Euro 2024 courtesy of a 2-1 victory over Turkey in the competition's fourth and final quarter-final on Saturday night.

Turkey led in the 35th minute courtesy of a header from Samet Akaydin, but Stefan De Vrij levelled the scores, before an own goal from Mert Muldur handed Ronald Koeman's side the win.

Netherlands will now take on England in the final four of the European Championship on Wednesday night.

Here, Sports Mole provides an in-depth analysis of the last-eight contest, including highlights, our man of the match and the standout moment.

HIGHLIGHTS

1st min: Huge chance for Memphis Depay to send Netherlands ahead in the first minute, but the attacker fires over the crossbar from a very promising position. Should have at least tested the goalkeeper.

7th min: Another opportunity for Memphis, who again finds himself inside the Turkey box, but the Netherlands international is crowded out just before he can have a shot.

11th min: Turkey's first opportunity comes for Salih Ozcan after a counter-attack, but the midfielder fires over the crossbar from outside the box.

12th min: Xavi Simons curls over the Turkey crossbar from outside the penalty box.

30th min: Simons picks up a yellow card for a poor challenge on Arda Guler, and he is perhaps a touch fortunate to only escape with a booking due to the nature of the tackle.

32nd min: Guler hits one over the crossbar from distance.

35th min: GOAL! NETHERLANDS 0-1 TURKEY (AKAYDIN)

Turkey make the breakthrough in the 35th minute of the contest, with Akaydin heading a cross from Guler into the back of the net - it was a truly wonderful delivery from the Real Madrid attacker.

45th min: HALF-TIME: NETHERLANDS 0-1 TURKEY

54th min: Big chance for the Netherlands early in the second period, as substitute Wout Weghorst rises inside the Turkey box, but he is just crowded out at the vital moment.

55th min: Guler charges clear for Turkey and is fouled by Nathan Ake, who picks up a yellow card. Ake is fortunate that De Vrij was alongside him.

56th min: Guler hits the post with a wonderful free kick from distance.

57th min: Relatively comfortable save for the Turkey goalkeeper to deny Memphis, who was carrying a threat for the Netherlands when Ronald Koeman's side broke forward.

65th min: Big chance for Turkey to score a second, but the Netherlands goalkeeper makes a brilliant save to deny Kenan Yildiz, before Weghorst manages to clear ahead of Baris Alper Yilmaz.

70th min: Big chance for Weghorst once again, but the striker sees his effort kept out by Turkey's goalkeeper at the far post. Should have done better.

70th min: GOAL! NETHERLANDS 1-1 TURKEY

Netherlands level the scores in the 70th minute, with De Vrij heading a delivery from Memphis into the back of the net from inside the box. Not sure where the marking was from Turkey there.

76th min: GOAL! NETHERLANDS 2-1 TURKEY (MULDUR OG)

Netherlands take the lead in the 76th minute of the contest, as Gakpo looks to turn a low Denzel Dumfries cross into the back of the net from close range, but it later goes down as an own goal.

84th min: Cenk Tosun heads over the crossbar, as Turkey looked to respond.

85th min: Two big chances for Turkey in quick succession, but Zeki Celik has a shot blocked, before Kerem Akturkoglu has a shot deflected behind for a corner.

88th min: Tosun has another half-chance, but he heads wide.

89th min: Smart stop from the Turkey goalkeeper to keep out a strike from Gakpo.

90th min: Akturkoglu heads wide at the far post, as Turkey come close again.

90 min+2: Incredible save from the Dutch goalkeeper this time to keep out an effort from Semih Kilicsoy, who looked to be finding the back of the net with a header.

90 min+6: RED CARD! Bertug Yildirim, who was not even on the pitch, is sent off for something that he has said to the officials.

90 min+7: FULL-TIME: NETHERLANDS 2-1 TURKEY

MAN OF THE MATCH - ARDA GULER

It was not to be for Turkey, but the performance of Guler simply cannot be overlooked here.

The Real Madrid attacker provided a wonderful weak-footed assist for his side to make the breakthrough on Saturday night, and he hit the post with a brilliant free kick in the second period.

Guler deserved to be on the winning side in the quarter-final, and Real Madrid supporters will have been delighted with the performance of the 19-year-old.

According to WhoScored, he finished with a 90% pass completion, while he also completed two successful dribbles in a fine all-round attacking performance.

STANDOUT MOMENT

It appeared that Turkey would be taking this match into extra-time, with Kilicsoy heading towards goal in second-half stoppage time, but Netherlands goalkeeper Verbruggen made a stunning save.

The reactions of the stopper were absolutely superb, and it must go down as one of the saves of the tournament.

BEST STAT

MATCH STATS

Possession: Netherlands 56%-44% Turkey

Shots: Netherlands 11-15 Turkey

Shots on target: Netherlands 4-4 Turkey

Corners: Netherlands 3-7 Turkey

Fouls: Netherlands 15-7 Turkey

LINEUPS

NETHERLANDS (4-3-3): Verbruggen; Dumfries, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Ake (Van de Ven 74'); Schouten, Simons (Frimpong 87'), Reijnders (Veerman 74'); Bergwijn (Weghorst 46'), Memphis (Zirkzee 87'), Gakpo

TURKEY (4-2-3-1): Gunok; Muldur (Celik 82'), Akaydin (Tosun 82'), Bardakci, Kadioglu; Ozcan (Yokuslu 77'), Ayhan (Kilicsoy 89); Yilmaz, Calhanoglu, Yildiz (Akturkoglu 77'); Guler

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