Turkey rain on Greece's parade

Turkey took the UEFA European Under-17 Championship Group B points against Greece after an opening match in which no quarter was given by either neighbour in soggy conditions.

Okay Yokuşlu put Turkey in front at the break and Artun Akçakin doubled the lead midway through the second half, only for Dimitrios Diamantakos to immediately reply from the spot. The scene was set for an exciting finish, but against a Greece side reduced to ten men late on, Artun concluded matters with a penalty of his own.

The wet ball nearly worked in Turkey's favour early on when Stefanos Kapino could not cling on to Oğuzhan Azğar's long-range free-kick. The Greece goalkeeper promptly smothered Metin Aydin's rebound, but there was nothing he could do after 16 minutes as Okay's perfectly weighted shot from outside the box dipped under the crossbar to the joy of the vociferous Turkey support. Given that cushion, Turkey started to dominate possession, however a Greece defence deprived of suspended duo Spyridon Fourlanos and Mavroudis Bougaidis held out well until the break.

Resolute defending in difficult conditions remained the theme early in the second half, with Greece captain Diamantakos, scorer of seven goals in qualifying, seldom enjoying clear sight of the target. Instead, it was the Turkey skipper who doubled the lead on the hour mark, Artun sweeping in a perfect low cross from Okan Derıcı after a fine run down the left.

Christos Provatidis, introduced for Greece a minute before the second goal, almost produced an immediate response only to be thwarted by Muhammed Uysal's save. The Turkey keeper was then beaten by Diamantakos's penalty, however, and four minutes from time he had to get across his goal in time to keep out an effort from the same player.

Greece defender Ioannis Polychronakis was dismissed for a second bookable offence after fouling substitute Recep Nıyaz (the youngest player ever to appear in a U17 finals at 15 years and 137 days) late on, and to make matters worse for Greece, Rıdvan Armut was then felled by Konstantinos Rougkalas in the box. Artun's penalty made sure of victory to give Turkey the best of starts before they tackle the Czech Republicon Friday, when Greece will face England without the suspended Polychronakis.