Streller fires Swiss to Germany
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Article summary
Turkey 4-2 Switzerland (agg: 4-4, Switzerland win on away goals) Marco Streller's late strike proved crucial despite Tuncay Şanlı's hat-trick in Istanbul.
Article body
A hat-trick from Tuncay Şanlı was not enough to fire Turkey to the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals as Marco Streller's late goal took Switzerland through on away goals following a thrilling night in Istanbul.
Early goal
Having been defeated 2-0 in Berne on Saturday, Turkey's hopes of overcoming the Swiss were seemingly dashed with barely a minute gone as Alexander Frei stroked in a penalty to leave the home side needing to score four to progress. They set about the task with gusto, only for Tuncay’s treble and Necati Ateş's penalty to be cancelled out by Streller's 84th-minute strike, the VfB Stuttgart forward winning Switzerland a first appearance on the world stage since 1994.
Tension
Home tension was rife as kick-off approached, as 52,000 fans filled the Sükrü Saraçoglu home of Fenerbahçe SK in the hope of seeing Turkey pull off a remarkable turnaround. Inside a minute, the sell-out crowd fell silent as central defender Alpay Özalan handled in the area, and Frei made no mistake from the spot to register his seventh goal in qualifying. Daniel Gygax could have effectively made the tie safe in the 21st minute, only to drag a shot wide when the situation demanded better.
Two for Tuncay
The Turkish saw that as a sign that all was not lost and within a minute were on terms on the night, Emre Belözoğlu swinging in a cross from the left which Tuncay headed in at the far post. The home hero also slid in the second in the 36th minute after Hakan Şükür had headed a cross from his Galatasaray SK team-mate Ergün Penbe towards goal. This was now a different Turkey side from the one which succumbed on Saturday, and they came out for the second half determined to continue carrying the fight to the visitors.
Late drama
Seven minutes after the interval their belief was fuelled even further as Streller fouled Serhat Akın in the area, creating a chance from the spot which Necati gratefully accepted. Coach Fatih Terim introduced Yıldıray Baştürk and Fatih Tekke for Emre and Necati as Turkey drove forward in search of that fourth goal, only to leave a space at the back which Streller exploited following a classic counterattack. There was still time for Tuncay to head his third, but it was Switzerland who had done enough to head to Germany.
