Ireland U21s beat Turkey after a thriller at Turner's Cross
Andrew Moran scores during the UEFA European U21 qualifier against Turkey at Turner’s Cross. Picture: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
THE Republic of Ireland U21s marked their return to Cork after 14 years away by opening their European Championships qualifying campaign with a thriller victory over Turkey at Turner’s Cross.
Jim Crawford’s team were trailing with just three minutes of normal time left to play, and Zak Gilsenan equalised from the spot.
Tony Springett used the momentum inside the ground to create a chance for substitute Aidomo Emakhu and he turned this in to complete the comeback in front of 3,754 spectators.
Everything started with a Matthew Healy corner that Anselmo Garcia MacNulty connected with and Turkey got this away. Another set-piece of its kind was headed on by Sam Curtis and his effort was blocked inside the penalty area.
It seemed the pressure was going to pay off when Healy won the ball in his own half and played Johnny Kenny into space. The striker ran clean through and was stopped from shooting by the Turkish goalkeeper.
Then Erencan Yardimci was brought down and the referee pointed to the spot. A penalty was awarded in the 18th minute and Kenan Yildiz sent Joshua Keeley the wrong way to make it 1-0.
It took Ireland quite some time to rediscover themselves, and they almost equalised when a cross into the box was missed by Dogan Alemdar. The ball landed at the feet of Sean Roughan and his first-time shot went out for a goal-kick.
Turkey carved Ireland open after this with some neat passing and that created a chance for Enis Destan. Sean Grehan was in the right place to block his shot in front of the goal at the tail end of the first half.
The visitors carried their lead into the break and Ireland restarted by keeping the ball and trying to create something from inside their own half. The end product was Babajide Adeeko going for goal and his effort was pushed away by Alemdar.
This was the start of a frantic few minutes that saw various players try to get sight of the target.
It was clear that something was building, as each pass seemed to push Türkiye further and further into their own half. The equaliser came from a corner that Roughan sent in and the ball was headed out by Kenan Yildiz to Andrew Moran.
He took the ball down on the edge of the area and put it into the opposite corner with a half-volley in the 56th minute.
Turkey regained the lead when Aksel Baran created space for Ugur Kaan Yildiz to cross into the area and an unmarked Cihan Canak fired in.
Ireland were back in the game with the penalty that Gilsenan converted at the Shed End after Moran went down inside the area.
It was end to end as the two teams battled to get more than just a point in injury time. Ireland pestered Turkey and after an excellent save by Alemdar, Springett sent the ball to the back post.
Aidomo Emakhu poked this in and made it 3-2 in the fourth minute of nine added on. Turkey couldn’t muster an equaliser due to the organisation of Crawford’s players. They blocked every cross and Keeley was first off his line to catch everything sent his way.
Now the team turns their attention to Tuesday’s qualifier against San Marino at Turner’s Cross.
Joshua Keeley; Mohammad Lawal, Anselmo Garcia MacNulty, Matthew Healy, Andrew Moran, Sam Curtis, Adam Murphy, Sean Roughan, Sean Grehan, Johnny Kenny, Babajide Adeeko.
Aidomo Emakhu for Kenny (72), Zak Gilsenan for Murphy (72), Tony Springett for Grehan (84), James Furlong for Roughan (90).
Dogan Alemdar; Yasin Ozcan, Ravil Tagir, Cem Turkmen, Enis Destan, Erencan Yardimci, Aksel Baran Potur, Kenan Yildiz, Ugur Kaan Yildiz, Bartug Elmaz, Serdar Saatci.
Cihan Canak for Yildiz (71), Emin Bayram for Saatci (72), Metehan Baltaci for Elmaz (81).
Joonas Jaanovits (Estonia)
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