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Nihat the hero for Turkey and Cech the villain as Czechs implode

Society Materials 16 June 2008 01:53 (UTC +04:00)

( dpa ) - Two goals in the last three minutes from Nihat Kahveci helped Turkey come from two goals down to beat the Czech Republic 3- 2 in their final Group A match in Geneva Sunday and set up a quarter-final clash against Croatia.

The Czechs went in front on 34 minutes through a powerful header from veteran striker Jan Koller and looked to be cruising into the last eight when Jaroslav Plasil made it 2-0 on 62 minutes.

However, Arda Turan made it 2-1 with a shot from just inside the area with 15 minutes remaining to set up a tense finish.

Incredibly with just three minutes remaining, Petr Cech dropped a Hamit Altintop cross, which Nihat poked home and the Turkey captain then sealed a remarkable win two minutes later with a superb effort from the edge of the area. There was even time for Turkey goalkeeper Volkan Demirel to see a red card in stoppage time.

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