Netherlands level late against Turkey
Saturday, March 28, 2015
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Netherlands 1-1 Turkey
Wesley Sneijder's added-time shot deflected in off Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to salvage a point for the Netherlands.
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• Klaas-Jan Huntelaar equalises deep in added time to salvage point for the Netherlands
• Burak Yılmaz's goal seemed to have given Turkey Group A victory
• Netherlands stay two points above Turkey but five behind second-placed Iceland
• Next qualifiers: Latvia v Netherlands, Kazakhstan v Turkey (12 June)
A last-gasp Klaas-Jan Huntelaar goal gave the Netherlands a potentially crucial UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying Group A point at home to Turkey.
The visitors almost stunned the home support after 15 minutes. Caner Erkin broke down the left and found Burak Yılmaz, only for Bruno Martins Indi to block his effort on the line with Jasper Cillessen stranded.
Memphis Depay was looking lively for the home team and had two low efforts from outside the box pushed away by Volkan Babacan. Yet it was the Turkish keeper's Dutch counterpart who was beaten first. Volkan Şen laid the ball off to the ever-dangerous Burak Yılmaz, whose shot clipped Martins Indi on its way past Cillessen.
The Netherlands had a great chance to equalize shortly after the break. Sneijder's superb cross caused a collision between Babacan and Huntelaar, and when the ball broke to substitute Luciano Narsingh his half-shot dribbled past the gaping goal. Ibrahim Afellay then sent in a rising shot that the Turkish keeper palmed over.
In-form VfL Wolfsburg striker Bas Dost replaced defensive midfielder Nigel de Jong just after the hour as Guus Hiddink upped the ante. Captain Sneijder threatened next, firing a dipping free-kick narrowly wide from 25 metres. And, just as it seemed the result was secure, it was Sneijder's shot that deflected in off Huntelaar to ensure the points were shared.