Ali Öztürk inspires Turkey triumph

By Paul Nixon at Juan A. Samaranch stadium

Turkey got their 2004 UEFA European Under-19 Championship campaign off to a fine start with a thrilling 4-3 victory against Poland in their opening Group B encounter in Lausanne.

Tough contest
A hat-trick from man of the match Ali Öztürk and another goal by Olcan Adin rendered two strikes by Lukasz Piszczek and a header from Sebastian Madera immaterial and settled a hard-fought contest in front of a small but enthusiastic crowd on the shores of Lake Geneva.

Stature and style
Despite Poland's neat early possession it was Turkey who created the best of the first-half chances, with Öztürk the driving force behind much of their good work. Reminiscent of Turkish international Emre Belozöglü in terms of both stature and style, the Gençlerbirligi SK youngster's floating role in midfield proved a constant thorn in Poland's collective side.

Missed chances
Hakan Aslantas went close for Turkey on five minutes when his acrobatic effort was narrowly wide of the target, before Olcan Adin skimmed the top of the crossbar with a header on the quarter-hour mark. Poland's first real chance of the match came midway through the half, Lukasz Jasinski firing straight at Turkish goalkeeper Serkan Kirintili. Öztürk then shot just wide on 24 minutes but Poland failed to heed the warning and two minutes later the same player opened the scoring.

Sensational effort
Turkey captain Selçuk Inan won the ball in midfield, advanced ten metres and laid a neat ball off for Öztürk to blast a sensational effort over helpless goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski from distance. Turkey were celebrating again three minutes before the break. Adin's driven near-post corner evaded his team-mates, but Fabianski could only help the ball into the net for a bizarre second.

Piszczek pounces
A team are often thought to be at their most vulnerable having just scored, and so it proved for Turkey. No sooner had they extended their lead than Poland reduced the arrears as Piszczek, scorer of two goals in the second qualifying round, pounced to strike following hesitation in the previously resolute Turkish defence.

Peszko surge
The second half began in the same fashion as the first, with neat passing, clever movement and tough tackles still the order of the day. Poland went close on 56 minutes when Slawomir Peszko's surging run and pull-back allowed substitute Tomasz Szczepan to fire just wide with his very first touch.

Hat-trick strike
However, Turkey were soon back on the attack and with 68 minutes on the clock the pressure told once again on Poland's creaking defence, Öztürk scoring his second of the night with an emphatic finish following a ricochet off defender Piotr Stawowy. Madera and Piszczek again pulled goals back either side of Öztürk's superb volleyed hat-trick strike seven minutes from time but by then the damage had been done.

Good work
Turkey will look to continue their good work against in-form Spain in their second group match on Thursday, while Poland will be desperate to bounce back against Germany if they are to stand any chance of progressing from this hotly-contested section.