 Ilhan Mansiz swept Turkey into
the World Cup semi-finals with
the third golden goal of the tournament
as coach Senol Gunes' side ended
Senegal's dreams of soccer history.
Just as Senegal had knocked
out Sweden in extra-time on
Saturday, on this occasion they
were on the receiving end as
substitute Ilhan Mansiz grabbed
the winner and only goal of
the game just 190 seconds into
the first period of extra-time.
Turkey now face a semi-final
showdown in Saitama on Wednesday
with Brazil, and will be after
revenge after losing to coach
Luis Felipe Scolari's side in
the group stages.
Turkey produced arguably their
best football of their tournament,
but they were also guilty of
wasting the more clear-cut chances
against a Senegal side who failed
to show their attacking flair
and inventiveness of previous
matches.
Turkey often tore into the
Senegalese defence with either
incisive through balls or passes
over the top, but they lacked
the finishing touch where it
was needed most, in the penalty
area, until Mansiz finally came
up with the knockout blow.
Credit where it is due, though,
to Senegal's back line for they
had produced several vital interceptions
and hasty clearances to force
the extra-time, but up front
they seemed a spent force as
their earlier heroics had clearly
caught up with them.
Just as Cameroon had failed
to do in Italia '90, Senegal
were unable to become the first
African team to reach the last
four, and instead it was Turkey
celebrating an historic triumph
in only their second World Cup
- their last being 48 years
ago when they were knocked out
in the first round.
Senegal did have the ball in
the net in the 20th minute,
but after the controversy which
had surrounded Spain's defeat,
there was no doubt the linesman
on this occasion was perfectly
correct in his judgement.
Ferdinand Coly's long throw
was flicked on by Papa Bouba
Diop, and after El Hadji Diouf
had mis-timed an overhead kick,
Khalilou Fadiga's drive was
then turned in by Camara.
His shot had hit Aston Villa's
Alpay Ozalan in the face as
it crossed the line, with Diouf
stabbing home for good measure,
but the linesman's flag had
long been raised as Camara had
earlier been offside.
Then came the first of two
glaring misses by captain Hakan
Sukur as he was wide open when
picked out by Hasan Sas, and
at that stage all that was needed
was a controlling touch.
Sukur would have been left
with a sidefoot shot into an
empty net as goalkeeper Tony
Sylva was out of position, but
he failed to manage the first
simple task.
Six minutes from the break,
a raking pass from Bulent Korkmaz
found Ergun Penbe racing down
the left wing, and although
Sylva just managed to tip on
the low cross, a sliding Sukur
just failed to get a vital touch
at the far post.
Parma striker Sukur was the
supplier of the next opportunity,
knocking down a chipped pass
in to Sas, who in turn played
in Yildiray Basturk.
The Bayer Leverkusen midfielder's
headed flick past the advancing
Sylva was bound for goal until
Daf dramatically hacked the
ball off the line.
Senegal had the final say of
an enthralling half as a lively
Camara played in Diouf and after
the Liverpool-bound striker
had turned inside Fatih Aykel,
he then unleashed a fierce drive
which was blocked by Alpay.
Chances were at a premium after
the break, with Diouf curling
a 22-yard free-kick on top of
the net, while Lamine Diatta
followed Alpay's example by
blocking a Basturk drive.
Ilhan almost made an immediate
impact after replacing Sukur
midway through the second half
when an attempted chip had Sylva
frantically backtracking, but
again the ball was caught by
the roof netting.
But just over three minutes
into extra-time a low, curling
ball into the heart of the Senegalese
area by Umit Davala was flicked
past Sylva by pony-tailed Besiktas
striker Mansiz, an obviously
effective 67th minute replacement
for Sukur.
Senegal
Sylva, Coly, Diatta, Cisse, Daf, Henri Camara, Papa Bouba Diop, Pape Malick Diop, Diao, Fadiga, Diouf.
Turkey
Rustu, Korkmaz, Akyel, Alpay, Ergun, Davala, Basturk, Tugay, Emre (Erdem 91), Sukur (Mansiz 67), Sas.
Attendance: 44,233
Referee: O Ruiz (Columbia). |
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