Turkey sets up Euro Cup 2024 quarter-final with Dutch after 2-1 win over Austria

Leipzig: Turkey will face the Netherlands in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 after securing a thrilling 2-1 victory over Austria. Both countries reached the last eight of a European Championship for the first time since 2008.

Merih Demiral emerged as the unlikely hero for Turkey, scoring just 50 seconds into the match and then heading in the decisive goal just before the hour mark.

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Despite the absence of suspended captain Hakan Calhanoglu, Vincenzo Montella's side, supported by a massive crowd at the Zentralstadion, will meet the Dutch in Berlin on Saturday. The Netherlands advanced with a comfortable 3-0 win over Romania earlier on Tuesday.

Turkey, who suffered a 6-1 defeat to Austria in March, saw Montella relishing the chance for redemption.

"I denied it yesterday but today I can admit that Austria was the team I wanted so that I could get rid of that stain that as a coach I had on me," said Montella.

Turkey will again rely on their passionate fans in the German capital as they aim to replicate their run to the semi-finals from 16 years ago.

Austria played a significant role in the engrossing match and could have won on another day. Ralf Rangnick's side dominated most of the game, particularly in the second half, but conceded the second goal completely against the run of play.

Al-Ahli centre-back Demiral became the first European defender to score twice in the knockout stages of a major tournament since Lilian Thuram for France at the 1998 World Cup.

Michael Gregoritsch reduced the deficit by converting Stefan Posch's flick-on from a corner shortly after Demiral increased his international goal tally to four in 48 caps.

Despite their dominance, Austria couldn't capitalise and were eliminated after Christoph Baumgartner was denied an equaliser in the final seconds of added time by an incredible save from Mert Gunok.

"I believe if the game had gone into extra-time we would have won the game because the Turkish team were exhausted and we had a physical advantage," Rangnick told reporters.

Cody Gakpo and Donyell Malen, with a brace in the second half, eased the Dutch through to the last eight.

Ronald Koeman's side were heavily criticised after the 3-2 defeat to Austria which led the Oranje to finish third in Group D.

But they were impressive on Tuesday, creating a hatful of chances and running out deserved winners in at the Allianz Arena.

"We showed a good reaction from the last match and I'm very pleased... We took a step in the right direction today," said Liverpool forward Gakpo.

"It's all about aggression and intensity and defending like a team and I think it was a good step and an important one."

Gakpo was the Netherlands' most impressive performer and put his team ahead in the 20th minute when his rasping shot caught goalkeeper Florin Nita off-guard at his near post.

Chances came and went as Romania failed to get hold of their opponents and after having what would have been his second ruled out for offside he took matters into his own hands with seven minutes remaining.

Gakpo's mazy dribble through a crowded penalty area led to him finding Malen who tapped home and then added the third in stoppage time to make the scoreline more representative of the balance of play.

"The only critical point was that it took us too long to score the second one," said Koeman.

"We are Dutch, we have to play well. The performance today was outstanding and that's why we have a chance to continue."

Whoever wins between the Netherlands and Turkey will play one of England and Switzerland a week on Wednesday. AFP