Republic of Ireland 3-2 Turkey
Aidomo Emakhu's injury-time goal made sure the Republic of Ireland Under-21s started their European Championships qualifying campaign with a 3-2 victory over Turkey at Turner’s Cross.
The team were trailing 2-1 with just three minutes to go and Zak Gilsenan equalised from the spot.
Then a cross was sent to the back post and the ball was turned in by Emakhu to complete the comeback and secure the win for Jim Crawford and his players.
This was the first game of its kind played at Turner’s Cross in 14 years and the new surroundings meant very little when it was the first day of school for a new class of players that were trying to go one better than their predecessors.
Aidomo Emakhu with a late late winner for #IRLU21 at Turner's Cross! 🇮🇪
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) September 8, 2023
Ireland 3-2 Turkey at FT. pic.twitter.com/IoqUTeKZe1
The historic play-off for the European Championships last year is now a year old, and it might as well be a decade away given the clean slate that the Under-21 coaching team has to work with during this qualification cycle.
In the face of this, they played attacking football that started with goalkeeper Joshua Keeley passing out from the back. This turned into chances, with an early Matthew Healy corner getting headed down by Anselmo Garcia MacNulty and Turkey cleared this.
Another set-piece of its kind was met by Sam Curtis and his effort was blocked by the Turkish defence on the goal-line.
Then Healy dug in inside his own half and won the ball for Ireland. The midfielder played a quick pass to Johnny Kenny and the striker was denied a chance to shoot by an onrushing Dogan Alemdar.
It was an agonising moment, made worse by the fact that Turkey won a penalty in the 18th minute over a foul on Erencan Yardimci.
Kenan Yildiz sent the goalkeeper the wrong from the spot at the Shed End and that gave his side a lead that went completely against the run of play.
It took Ireland a little bit of time to rediscover their composure and they almost equalised when a cross was dropped by Alemdar, but Sean Roughan fired wide.
What a strike from Andrew Moran!#IRLU21 are level with Turkey in Turner's Cross 🇮🇪
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) September 8, 2023
📺 Watch live: https://t.co/1UYItwpgS1 pic.twitter.com/B0sHgAO6ev
Ireland were re-energised by the break and they used this newfound composure to take control of the pace of the game. They used this to win a corner and Roughan sent the ball to the back post. Yildiz could only clear the ball as far as the edge of the area, and an unmarked Andrew Moran half-volleyed into the opposite corner to make it 1-1.
It seemed like all the work was undone when Cihan Canak turned in a cross in the 56th minute but Ireland rallied after the penalty won from a foul on Moran.
The goalkeeper was sent the wrong way and the three points were snatched with a low Tony Springett cross to the back post that Emakhu turned in.
Republic of Ireland: Joshua Keeley; Mohammad Lawal, Anselmo Garcia MacNulty, Matthew Healy, Andrew Moran, Sam Curtis, Adam Murphy (Zak Gilsenan 72), Sean Roughan (James Furlong 90), Sean Grehan (Tony Springett 84), Johnny Kenny (Aidomo Emakhu 72), Babajide Adeeko.
Turkey: Dogan Alemdar; Yasin Ozcan, Ravil Tagir, Cem Turkmen, Enis Destan, Erencan Yardimci, Aksel Baran Potur, Kenan Yildiz (Cihan Canak 71), Ugur Kaan Yildiz, Bartug Elmaz (Metehan Baltaci 81), Serdar Saatci (Emin Bayram 72).
Referee: Joonas Jaanovits (Estonia)
