Turkey quick to take control

Three goals in the first 23 minutes put Turkey in command of tonight's EURO 2004™ tie with Liechtenstein at the Ali Sami Yen stadium, as Senol Günes' Group 7 leaders comfortably maintained their 100 per cent record with a 5-0 win.

Gunes winning record
It was Günes's 17th win as Turkey coach, equalling the record held by Fatih Terim, and the result was assured as early as the seventh minute when Okan Buruk, scorer of Turkey's equaliser in Saturday's fortunate 2-1 win away in F.Y.R. Macedonia, fired past Peter Jehle.

Flying start
Turkey had got off to the worst of starts on Saturday, falling behind in the second minute, but there was little of the hesitancy that was so evidence in Skopje on show in Istanbul.

Ümit makes it two
Just eight minutes later, Turkey had doubled their advantage, Ümit Davala climbing highest to head in Arif Erdem's cross from the left.

Ilhan on target
Eight minutes later and it was three, Ilhan Mansiz picking his spot with a precise volley from the penalty spot after Daniel Hasler had only half cleared Arif's low cross from the right.

Rüstu save
Rüstu Reçber in the Turkey goal was called into a sharp save from Mario Frick moments before the break, but by then Liechtenstein would have been further behind if not for Jehle.

Jehle shines
On 38 minutes he saved well low to his right from Nihat Kahveci who was again thwarted by the keeper three minutes after the restart. Sixty seconds later, Hasler cleared Arif's volley off the line and, with 18 minutes to play, the Galatasaray SK midfield player was again denied by Jehle after connecting with a low cross.

Serhat double
Turkey eased the pace as the clock wound down, but young Fenerbahçe SK striker Serhat Akin, on as a substitute, still found time to add two more. On 82 minutes he touched Tugay Kerimoglu's through-ball beyond Jehle, then in stoppage time tapped in Nihat’s cross from the right.

Penalty miss
Frick saw Rüstu save his penalty with the last kick of the game, but by then the contest was over.