Turkey beat Croatia 3-1

Turkey beat Croatia 3-1 on penalties on Friday, after their Euro 2008 quarterfinal finish 1-1 after extra time. Turkey were weakened by a number of injuries, as well as suspensions to keeper Volkan Demirel and defender Mehmet Aurelio, and Croatia looked better on the day, and had the better of the scoring chances. But the Turks prevailed, and will meet Germany, who beat Portugal 3-2 on Thursday, in the first semifinal on Wednesday.

The game was fast-paced but frustrating, with both sides creating plenty of unfinished chances, but it ended dramatically with two goals in the final minute of extra time. The first goal came in the 119th minute, when Ivan Klasnic headed in for Croatia at the near post, after some nice work by Luka Modric. The game looked to be Croatia’s, but Turkey got one back in thrilling fashion when Semih Senturk’s left-footed shot took a deflection to beat Croatian keeper Stipe Pletikosa. Icmeler News Marmaris

But the Turks, who rallied with two late goals to beat the Czech Republic and qualify for the quarterfinals, had another dramatic strike in them.

After that, it was relatively easy in the penalty-kick shootout. Modric and Ivan Rakitic shot wide, Turkey made its first three tries, and Recber dived left to save a penalty shot from Mladen Petric to clinch it.

Arda Turan, Senturk and Hamit Altintop scored for Turkey in the shootout. Darijo Srna got Croatia’s only shootout goal. Turkey will face Germany in the semifinals on Wednesday in Basel, Switzerland. Neither team won its first-round group.

Klasnic is the first player to appear in Euros after needing a kidney replacement. He had one donated by his father, and returned to play in the Bundesliga before joining the national team.

Until the dying moments, it was a low quality match marked by defensive caution. The depleted Turkish team restricted Croatia to few opportunities by pressing in midfield and not allowing the Croats time on the ball. And Croatia, which won Group B, showed little of the attacking flair it used to beat Germany in the opening round.

There were a few good chances to score, though. Croatia striker Ivica Olic hit the crossbar in the 19th minute from close range after a low cross from Modric. In the 83rd, Recber, playing for the suspended Volkan Demirel, preserved the shutout when he made a diving one-handed save on a free kick by Darijo Srna.

The Turks were missing four injured players and two under suspension. The veteran Recber, who helped Turkey make the World Cup semifinals six years ago, made the absence of Demirel less painful until his extra-time blunder. Then he made up for it with his free kick and his work in the shootout.