Czech Republic 0 Turkey 2: Result sends Northern Ireland through to last 16 as Fatih Terim’s side finish third in Group D
Burak Yilmaz and Ozan Tufan score a goal in each half to give themselves hope and send the Czech Republic packing
BURAK YILMAZ was the toast of Belfast as Northern Ireland were gifted a place in the last 16 by Turkey.
The veteran striker - who plies his trade with Beijing Guoan in the Chinese Super League - will never have to put his hand in his pocket if he ever feels like holidaying in Ulster.
For his tenth-minute goal was enough to put paid to the Czech Republic’s hopes of qualification and guarantee that Michael O’Neill’s men go through as one of the best third-placed finishers.
And if Turkey are fined by UEFA for the flares and fireworks thrown onto the pitch after Ozan Tufan’s 65th-minute decider, the Irish Football Association will happily pay that as well.
Even though the win still leaves Turkey needing a miracle to join Northern Ireland in the knock-out rounds, at least they restored some national pride in Lens last night.
Emotional coach Fatih Terim had accused his players of throwing in the towel during last week’s 3-0 defeat by Spain and claimed they should be “ashamed” of their efforts in their first two group games.
Yet there could be no questioning their commitment in a match which they had to win to stand any chance of progression.
And they certainly didn’t look like a team who had given up the ghost as they raced into an early lead to send their fans crazy.
Arda Turan’s pass sent teenage winger Emre Mor scampering free down the right and the youngster had the presence of mind to wait for his moment before cutting the ball back for Yilmaz.
The striker still had plenty of work to do but didn’t even break stride as he smashed an unstoppable shot past the startled Petr Cech.
It was worst possible way for the Arsenal keeper to mark his achievement of matching Karel Poborsky’s Czech record of 17 appearances at a major international tournament.
But with both teams going flat out for the win, it was clear right from the start that the keepers were going to be in for a busy evening.
Czech centre-half Tomas Sivok sent a thumping 16th minute header against the base of a post and Volkan Babacan was forced into a spectacular flying save by Jaroslav Plasil’s fierce long-range effort.
Mor could have doubled Turkey’s lead but shot wastefully wide from a tight angle with team-mate Volkan Sen unmarked in the middle.
It was frantic stuff and with no let-up in the ferocious pace Pavel Kaderabek was just unable to turn in Tomas Necid’s header at the back post.
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The Czechs had come back from two-down in their previous game against Croatia and certainly weren’t about to abandon hope against a team they had topped in their qualifying group.
Necid and Vladimir Darida were both thwarted by the erratic Volkan but Turkey always looked threatening on the counter.
Terim was going mad when Scottish ref Willie Collum stopped play for a foul by the Czechs with Turan clean through on goal.
But his anger quickly subsided when the subsequent free-kick from Selcuk Inan was lashed into the top corner by Tufan and the celebrations could be heard from Lens to Lisburn.
CZECH REPUBLIC: Cech 5, Pavelka 6 (Skoda 56, 6), Dockal 7 (Sural 71, 5), Plasil 6 (Kolar 90, 6), Krejci 7, Sivok 7, Necid 6, Darida 7, Pudil 6, Kaderabek 6, Hubnik 6
BOOKED: Pavelka, Plasil, Sural
TURKEY: Babacan 7, Sen 6 (Ozyakup 61, 6), Mor 6 (Sahan 69, 6), Yilmaz 7 (Tosun 90, 5), Gonul 7, Tufan 7, Topal 8, Inan 7, Turan 7, Balta 7, Koybasi 7
BOOKED: Balta, Koybasi
STAR MAN: Mehmet Topal
