Late Tosun Strike Seals Turkiye's Spot In Euro 2024 Last 16 Against Czechia

Cenk Tosun's late goal secured Turkiye's place in the Euro 2024 knockout stages. They finished second in Group F after a 2-1 victory over a 10-man Czechia team. Hakan Calhanoglu scored his first major tournament goal to give Turkiye the lead, following Antonin Barak's early red card. Tomas Soucek equalised for Czechia, but Tosun's 94th-minute strike sealed the win.

Despite having a man advantage, Turkiye struggled to create chances in the first half. The match saw more bookings than shots on target before halftime. Czechia's defensive efforts kept Turkiye at bay, with neither side managing a shot on target during the opening period.

The second half began with Turkiye showing more urgency. Calhanoglu scored shortly after Kenan Yildiz was denied by Jindrich Stanek. However, Czechia quickly responded through Soucek, whose goal stood despite Mert Gunok's appeals for a foul in the build-up being dismissed by VAR.

Turkiye needed only a draw to advance but secured their spot with Tosun's late goal. His introduction from the bench proved decisive as he scored past substitute goalkeeper Matej Kovar in stoppage time.

The game's turning point came in the 19th minute when Barak received his second yellow card for a late challenge on Salih Ozcan. This incident marked the earliest red card in Euros history and left Czechia with ten men for most of the match.

Following this, Czechia faced an uphill battle, needing all three points to progress. Their task became even harder as they were reduced to ten men early on. Despite this setback, they managed to level the score before ultimately succumbing to Tosun's late strike.

Group F Standings and Outcomes

Czechia finished at the bottom of Group F after Georgia defeated Portugal 2-0 in Gelsenkirchen. This result allowed Georgia to advance while Czechia was eliminated from the tournament.

The victory marked Turkiye's first progression from the group stage at the Euros since 2008. They had previously been eliminated in both the 2016 and 2020 editions of the tournament.

"Turkey didn't have a shot on target in the first half, though." - Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst), June 26, 2024

Tosun had only four touches after coming on with 15 minutes left but made his presence felt with his decisive goal in stoppage time. His contribution ensured Turkiye's passage to the last 16 and sparked celebrations among their supporters.

The match ended with some controversy as Tomas Chory received a red card after full-time following an altercation. This added to an already feisty encounter that saw multiple bookings and intense moments throughout.