Berlin: Netherlands fought back to secure a 2-1 victory over Turkey on Saturday, earning their place in the European Championship semifinals.

An own goal from Mert Muldur in the 76th minute, just six minutes after Stefan de Vrij had equalised Samet Akaydin’s first-half header for Turkey, proved decisive for the Dutch in the final quarterfinal match.

“It was really a battle today,” De Vrij said. “The Turkish team they have a big heart, a lot of quality. In the end we did well and we deserved the win.”

The Netherlands turned the game around following the introduction of 1.97-meter-tall (6-foot-5) striker Wout Weghorst at the start of the second half.

“He’s always fighting up front, helping the team. And we started to keep the ball, create chances," De Vrij said. "Then we scored two goals and the whole team fought until the end."

The Netherlands will now face England in the second semifinal in Dortmund on Wednesday. Spain will take on France in the first semifinal on Tuesday.

“The players showed tonight a big heart,” Dutch coach Ronald Koeman said. “We had to suffer but finally it’s a great success.”

Turkey played without defender Merih Demiral, who was suspended for two matches by UEFA for making a nationalistic hand gesture after scoring in Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Austria. The gesture is associated with Turkish nationalists and an ultra-nationalist group.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the match after altering his plans due to the diplomatic row with Germany over Demiral's gesture.

German interior minister Nancy Faeser had said Demiral used his celebration “as a platform for racism” and federal minister Cem Özdemir, a German politician of Turkish descent, said the gesture “stands for terror, fascism.”

Many Turkish fans made the gesture on their way to Berlin’s Olympiastadion, and again during Turkey's national anthem before the game.

The Dutch began the match strongly, but Turkey’s defenders managed to limit the impact of Cody Gakpo, Xavi Simons, and Memphis Depay. Turkey deployed five defenders when out of possession, as they did in their win against Austria, and gradually improved.

Akaydin rewarded a period of Turkish pressure by scoring in the 35th minute. Arda Guler delivered a precise cross for the defender to head in off the underside of the crossbar, igniting wild celebrations among Turkey’s coaching staff and fans. Guler was swamped in the coaching area with hugs, while fans in the west end of the stadium set off flares. Most remained standing after the goal.

Turkish supporters significantly outnumbered their orange-clad counterparts in a city home to a large community of people with Turkish roots. Many are descendants of Turkish “guest workers” who arrived in what was West Germany to help rebuild the post-war economy. Germany is home to some 3 million Turks or people with Turkish roots, making them the country’s largest ethnic minority, and the team has enjoyed fervent support at Euro 2024.

Koeman, who won Euro ’88 as a player with the Netherlands, responded to his team's half-time deficit by bringing on Weghorst, whose presence provided the Dutch wingers with a target.

Guler hit the post with a free kick, but it was an isolated effort during a period of intense Dutch pressure that finally paid off in the 70th minute when De Vrij was left unmarked to head in Depay’s cross.

Suddenly, the Dutch supporters could be heard again, and they erupted once more when Gakpo forced Muldur's own goal by getting in front of the defender to meet Denzel Dumfries’ low cross.

“We didn’t start the second half very well and fell behind,” Turkey captain Hakan Calhanoglu said. “After their second goal, we turned to long balls. Such things happen. It’s an honor to have come this far.” AP