Turkey 0-1 Republic of Ireland
The Republic of Ireland took a massive step towards a first-ever Euro Under-21 finals appearance following a richly-deserved 1-0 win over Turkey at the Esenler Stadium in Istanbul.
Having utterly dominated the second half, where Andy Moran and Joe Hodge excelled, it looked like they were going to have to make do with a creditable point, but Sam Curtis’ neat finish in the 84th minute ensured that all three would be coming back on the plane with Jim Crawford and his players.
The impact was obvious as Ireland jumped back above Norway and into second in Group A. Italy remain two points clear in the race for an automatic spot for Slovakia next year, but Ireland – who welcome Latvia to Tallaght on Tuesday – have a game in hand.
After this result against an admittedly weakened Turkey, they will be confident of beating anyone with games against Norway and the Italians to come after that Latvia assignment next week.
It wasn’t quite Aidomo Emakhu’s 96th-minute winner when the sides met at Turner’s Cross in the first group game, but Ireland did leave it late to find the breakthrough, and had to weather a late Turkey storm as they pumped ball after ball into the area.
Weather it they did, and it’s now five wins from seven games.
Unsurprisingly, the opening skirmishes belonged to a home side who were backed by a boisterous crowd, even if actual goal-scoring opportunities were few and far between.
Highly-rated Fenerbahce midfielder Bartug Elmaz was pulling the strings in the early stages in a deep-lying role, continually spraying the ball right to the fleet-footed Cihan Canak who was constantly trying to run at Anselmo Garcia MacNulty, but he was getting very little change out of the Spain-born full-back.
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In those early exchanges, Ireland seemed happy enough to simply relive the pressure, playing the ball long down the right flank to Sinclair Armstrong who was making a nuisance of himself despite the numerical disadvantage.
The play was generally neat and tidy, but excitement levels were low. Turkish defender Ugur Yildiz changed that with a pair of fine efforts in quick succession though.
The first arrived 13 minutes in as the Irish defence backed off and he arrowed an effort at goal that required Josh Keeley to push out for a corner. That set-piece was cleared out to Yildiz, but from all of 40 yards, he unleased another rocket that had Keeley scrambling, but it was always a bit too high.
That was really as close as Turkey came in that first half as Ireland started to get a handle on Elmaz with Hodge in particular starting to flourish.
Armstrong and Curtis were making great breaks down the wings and the latter won a series of corners – ultimately wasted – while Metehan Baltaci was booked as Armstrong spun him with green grass in front of him on the left wing.
Although Ireland hadn’t tested rookie goalkeeper Emre Bilgin – in for cruciate victim Dogan Alemdar who was sidelined in June – they were looking extremely comfortable as they continually got a foot in to break up Turkish attacks through the middle. Canak, now devoid of service, moved to the left to try and force something but found his route to goal continually blocked.
Keeley saved easily from a Baltaci long-range effort as the half-time whistle approached, with more drama in the final moments of the half than maybe the 45 minutes beforehand.
First, Turkey made an optimistic penalty appeal for a handball against Curtis with Ireland then breaking and claiming for their own spot-kick after what looked like a trip on Emakhu in the box by Baltaci, with referee Amin Kourgheli not interested in either.
Ireland did finally get a shot on target 49 minutes in as Armstrong burst down the right-hand side of the box and drilled low towards goal, but Bilgin had his angles covered.
It marked a bright start to the second half for the visitors as the dominated possession, although two more wasted corners were added to the growing tally.
Moran was starting to grow in influence as Hodge again contributed in both attack and defence with Ireland playing the ball around with ease, but clear-cut chances continued to elude them, but they’d start to come as the half wore on.
The loss of Turkish captain Serdar Saatci was another blow to Turkey, and Ireland quickly had a sight of goal – and a good one too.
It all started with a super interception and burst from Moran and he had the composure to slide the ball across the edge of the box to Emahku, but his control let him down and he fired over with Wigan’s Babajide Adeeko replacing him moments later.
Armstrong fired a low shot goalwards before he was replaced by the in-form Mark O’Mahony before the offside flag denied Ireland the lead 10 minutes from time.
Neat football in midfield released Sean Roughan and he pulled the ball back invitingly for Hodge and although his effort wasn’t cleanly struck, the rebound fell back to Roughan who tapped home to an empty net before the lineman’s flag correctly denied him.
Highly-rated 17-year-old Mustafa Hekimoglu then had his first sight at goal, but his effort was blocked by James Abankwah who dominated that duel all night.
It was an opportunity that came very much against the run of play and moments later Ireland did make their dominance count.
Hodge, once again, was directly involved. The Huddersfield player collected the ball in the centre circle, advanced and prodded a beautiful ball past two defenders and into the path of Curtis who took a touch and fired low past Bilgin.
That previously boisterous home crowd had long been silenced, but they were given something to shout about as Turkey finally started to attack with a series of crosses into the box requiring some heroic last-ditch defending.
The closest they came was when Yasin Ozcan, who had a few late pops at goal himself, delivered a teasing ball into the box was diverted onto the post by substitute Metehan Altunbas, but Ireland held out for what could prove to be a crucial three points.
Turkey: E Bilgin, Y Ozcan, S Saatci, T Altikardes, U Yildiz,M Baltaci, Y Konak, L Burcu, B Elmaz, C Canak, M Hekimoglu.
Subs: B Onal for Burcu (62), H Gureler for Saatci (64), A Akman for Konak (71), B Ince for Canak (71), M Altunbas for Altikardes (80).
Republic of Ireland: J Keeley, S Curtis, C O’Riordan, J Abankwah, S Roughan, A Garcia MacNulty, A Moran, J Hodge, M Healy, A Emakhu, S Armstrong.
Subs: B Adeeko for Emakhu (68), M O’Mahony for Armstrong (77).
Referee: A Kourgheli.
Meanwhile, England U-21s’ hopes of qualifying automatically for next year’s European Championship finals suffered a major blow as they were held to a goalless draw by Northern Ireland.
Ben Futcher took charge of his first game after Lee Carsley moved up to the senior squad but things did not go to plan in Ballymena as the hosts dug in.
Reigning champions England were already playing catch-up after losing to Ukraine earlier in the qualifying campaign and may now have to settle for a play-off spot.
Futcher was forced to make changes after losing a number of his initial squad – including Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott and Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace – and England struggled to break down a packed Northern Ireland defence.
Manchester City’s James McAtee, the stand-out talent on show, forced Pierce Charles into a first save after 25 minutes with a smart turn and shot that took a deflection.
Charles was then out well to deny Jonathan Rowe after he was played in by Elliot Anderson, while there was a long stoppage for treatment to England goalkeeper James Trafford following a late challenge from JJ McKiernan.
Trafford was able to continue but the frustration continued for the visitors, with Morgan Rogers heading over from a free-kick.
McAtee began the second half by drawing another save out of Charles at his near post, however, clear-cut chances were few and far between and the hosts began to look more of a threat.
Substitute Makenzie Kirk shot over in the 76th minute and, after Charles produced another fine save to deny Anderson, Justin Devenny nearly won it for Northern Ireland with a spectacular long-range volley that flew just over the crossbar.
England will host Austria in a friendly at Kenilworth Road on Monday, while Northern Ireland play Ukraine on Tuesday.
Watch Republic of Ireland v England in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday from 4pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1.