VIENNA: Turkey beat Croatia 3-1 on penalties after their nerve-tingling Euro 2008 quarterfinal finished 1-1 following extra time yesterday. Turkey will meet Germany, who beat Portugal 3-2 on Thursday, in the first semi in Basel on Wednesday.
Extra time had finished in dramatic fashion with two goals in the last minute. Ivan Klasnic headed Croatia in front at the near post after a good run and cross by Luka Modric in the 119th minute.
But there was still time for comeback kings Turkey, who twice rallied from behind to win in the group stages, to equalize in breathtaking style as Semih Senturk scored with the last kick of the game.
Croatia then made a mess of the penalty shootout, with Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic missing the target before Turkey’s victory was clinched when Rustu Recber saved from Mladen Petric.
Turkey trio Arda Turan, Semih Senturk and Hamit Altintop were all successful with their spot kicks. “It was indescribable,” said Hamit. “If we can keep going like this and believe in ourselves, anything is possible.
“It was good we stayed calm at the end. In the past we weren’t able to do that. Today we stayed as cold as ice to the end.”
Defeat was rough on Croatia, who overall had the better of the chances with Turkey weakened by a string of injuries plus suspensions to keeper Volkan Demirel and defender Mehmet Aurelio.
The opening chance came in the fifth minute when Turkey playmaker Hamit’s low drive from 25 meters flew wide.
Slaven Bilic’s Croatia soon found their stride and repeatedly managed to get in behind the Turkish defense on the flanks through clever passing.
One such occasion led to the best opportunity of the half in the 19th minute when Modric’s low cross found striker Ivica Olic close in but his sliding effort rattled the bar under pressure from keeper Rustu.
Niko Kranjcar then headed the rebound over to the anguish of the Croatian contingent of fans inside the noisy Ernst Happel Stadium, where several flares were lit during the game.
Mehmet Topal sent a 30-meter pile-driver just wide toward the end of the first period in a rare effort for the Turks.
Croatia went close at the start of the second half when Gokhan Zan’s weak back header let in Olic, who nodded over Rustu but failed to add the finishing touch with two defenders on the line.
Olic had two more chances and Darijo Srna forced Rustu into two saves from free kicks late in the 90 minutes but Turkey hung on to take the game into extra time during which substitute Semih shot over and Tuncay Sanli fired narrowly wide.
