Euro 2024 Diary: Gunok prompts Turkish delight at rain-lashed Leipzig after Demiral’s double

What a memorable match in the sodden RB Arena - to go with such a memorable trip to east Germany

Happy Mittowch from here in Leipzig in east Germany!

I’ve been fascinated with east Germany since the Berlin Wall came down, but until Tuesday, had never ventured here, bar a couple of riotous weekends in Berlin a long time ago.

Can I just say I love the fact that it is so quirky, so different from west Germany.

Yes, it might appear far more dilapidated than its western cousin, but equally there are broad boulevards and grand, handsome buildings that remind you of Central European capitals such as Budapest.

Arriving at the cavernous yet imposing - and still austere - Hauptbanhof (after a long day on Dutch Bahn) I decided not to rush off despite it being a match day, and had a good wonder around the grand central station.

Despite time being tight I paid a visit to the Stasi Museum at the site of their former HQ. I will write far more about the tomorrow, suffice to say that as someone who remembers the dramatic fall of the Berlin Wall back in 1989, the brave people of Leipzig played a large part in helping to change the world.

Everyone I have talked to so far seems to enjoy living here. Far from the western stereotype of a downtrodden poorer region, left behind by a more prosperous western part of this vast country.

The taxi driver who took me to the ground - my cheap hotel being miles away from anywhere including transport links - actually did a chef’s kiss when talking about Leipzig. He told me rents were around 400EUR a month - ‘cheaper than Berlin’ - and that the city was developing a reputation as a tech and start-up hub, entreprenuers’ boosted by favourable financial, business and social conditions that encouraged creativity and ‘different thought processes’.

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The stadium itself had kept its imposing Soviet-era facade which gave it character, although with all the labrynthine tunnels and staircases, I nearly stumbled onto the pitch.

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What. A. Game.

I won’t go into here ( you can read my match report from the Leipzig press box below) but I thought the match was the game of the tournament so far. Complete with the save of the tournament. Played out to a relentlessly cacophonous soundtrack as well as no little pyro, firecrackers and smoke. I loved it. Absolutely loved it. Just like Leipzig itself.

More on Leipzig, easter Germany, the Stasi and the fall of the Berlin Wall tomorrow…

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PS:

Here’s my Morning Star match report from the RB Arena on Tuesday evening. What a game

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Keeper Gunok prompts Turkish delight at rain-lashed Leipzig after Demiral’s double 

Austria 1–2 Turkey: Report by Layth Yousif at the RB Arena in Leipzig

Packed full of unrelenting drama, there were only a matter of moments remaining in this thrilling game of the tournament so far, as the rain continued to lash down at the RB Arena.

Austria, led by Ralf Rangnick, who had spent more than a decade helping Leipzig fly through financial help from an energy drinks conglomerate, were trailing 2-1 with only seconds left.

To avoid having his international side’s wings clipped by a vibrant Turkey side, in one, last-gasp, final throw of the dice, Rangnick’s team pushed forward on the sodden turf.

The ball came to Austria forward Christoph Baumgartner, who thought he had steered the ball past Turkey goalkeeper Mert Gunok.

Yet, just as everyone in the official 38,305 attendance assembled in this east German stadium – situated on a post-war site that had held up to 120,000 before the Berlin Wall came down – was expecting the ball to enter the net for a stoppage time equaliser, Gunok, Besikitas’ 35-year-old veteran, somehow kept the ball out of the net.

Showing astonishing athleticism, agility, footwork, strong hands, not to mention composure and an unbridled determination to win, Gunok incredibly, inconceivably, sensationally, in a horizontal leap for the ages, turned the ball round the ball post.

The Turkish fans, momentarily stunned by what they had just seen, instinctively roared their approval, as Portugal referee Artur Soares Dias, blew his whistle shortly afterwards, leaving Austria utterly crestfallen.

Austria players in soaked red shirts lay prone on the wet grass, unable to comprehend what they had just seen, while others stood stock still, staring into the middle distance, stunned into silence, while one or two simply cried.

In contrast, deep joy was everywhere looked in a Turkey top, as the entire squad made a beeline for Gunok, engulfing the keeper, amid deafening noise from their fans, who let off firecrackers, smoke bombs and pyro to mark the victory.

Speaking after the match, a shellshocked but dignified Rangnick, said Gunok’s save reminded him of Gordon Banks keeping out Pele at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. It was that good. 

Turkey now face the Netherlands in the quarter-finals to be played in Berlin this weekend.

Earlier, a brace from Merih Demiral was enough to help Vincenzo Montella’s side to their 2-1 victory over Austria despite Michael Gregoritsch pulling a goal back for Rangnick’s side.

Demiral fired home in emphatic fashion from close range following Arda Guler’s corner in the first minute as the Turkey fans behind the goal erupted with booming cheers accompanied by firecrackers, pyro and smoke bombs going off in a deafening cacophony of noise.

In the game of his life, Demiral, the 26-year-old former Juventus defender now plying his trade in Saudi Arabia, grabbed his second goal of the contest on 59 minutes to double the lead after leaping highest in a crowded box.

The goal sparked utter pandemonium after Demiral’s emphatic header from Real Madrid teenage starlet Guler’s corner - despite Austrian fans hurling a number of objects at the 19-year-old while he was trying to take the corner.

Unbowed by the torrential rain which lashed down, the 25,000 strong Turkish support in the stadium unleashed still further deafening cheers and firecrackers after Montella’s side went 2-0 ahead.

Just as many believed Turkey could ease towards facing the Netherlands for a place in the last four, Ragnick’s side scored through Gregoritsch, who pulled a goal back on 66 minutes, when converting Stefan Posch's flick-on at the back post.

However, despite increasingly desperate Austrian raids in the rain, Turkey held on.

Not least when keeper Gunok performed heroics to keep out Baumgartner with the save of the tournament.

The result ensures Turkey have now made the last eight three times in this tournament, with boss Montella, Italian Euro 2000 finalist as a player, surely set to enter the pantheon of great Turkey coaches, following in the footsteps of Senol Gunes and Fatih Terim.

Speaking after the match, the modest Italian said: "Our team spirit showed until the last minute… our next opponents are the Netherlands who are a team who fight like lions.

“We will gather our mental and physical strength and keep following our path."