Turkish Football
Turkey pulled off a surprise victory against group favorites Netherlands in the opening FIFA World Cup 2022 Group G clash at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul on Wednesday.
The Crescent-Stars got off to a great start when Burak Yilmaz’s deflected shot from outside the opposition penalty area found the back of the net.
Yilmaz bagged a brace on 34 minutes from the penalty spot to give Turkey a two-goal lead heading into the half-time break.
And things got even better for the home side when Hakan Calhanoglu scored a brilliant long-range effort to extend Turkey’s lead to three goals.
But it would not be a Turkey national team game without some drama.
Second-half substitute Davy Klaassen looked to have scored a consolation goal on 75 minutes but when De Jong scored another goal just a minute later it looked like a comeback could be on the cards.
Then up stepped Burak Yilmaz who saved the best till last with a sublime free-kick effort to make the score 4-2.
And yet there was still more drama as the visitors won a penalty in additional time. Goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir managed to save Depay’s spot-kick effort just before the final whistle.
Yilmaz became the oldest player (35) to score a hat-trick in a World Cup qualifier.
He also became the first player to score a hat-trick against the Netherlands since Klaus Allofs for Germany in 1980.
Turkey take on Norway in their next qualifier on Saturday 27 March in Spain.
This Story First Appeared At Turkish Football
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