The match didn’t start in the best way possible as the Turkish fans were whistling the hymn of Armenia.
#Havaqakan is here!!!!#Armenia #Հայաստան #TURARM #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/zW2VuF2SrJ
— Football Federation of Armenia (@OfficialArmFF) September 8, 2023
Turkey started to keep possession and tried to put its own domination in the first minutes of the game. Mert Gunok was tested in the sixth minute, but he was able to save.
Under had another chance for his team but he was tackled in the zone. Celik dances with the ball, but he is intercepted. Turkey was more active with the ball and Calhanoglu was trying to build up from the back. Baris Yilmaz had a chance to pass his team ahead in the 14th minute, but his shot was saved by Cancarevic.
Armenia responded in the Bichakhchyan as he had a corner in favor and in that way could send Armenia to the opponent’s zone. Under responded with a fast cross in the 20th minute but his pass could not be useful for any of his teammates.
Baris Yilmaz had another chance in the 24th but could not score. He was the most dangerous player for Turkey.
Akturkoglu tried from the distance and this was another test for Cancarevic in the 28th. Armenia responded with a shot from the distance, but it was saved by Gunok.
Under has the ideal chance to put Turkey ahead in the 33rd, but his attempt went wide. Iwu on the other side tried with a shot but it was blocked by the Turkish defense in the 35th.
Both teams tried to keep the ball and go into the opponents’ zones with long balls. Turkey missed a chance with Ozkacar, who could have scored with a header. Zeki Celik tries once more in the box, but he is blocked by Cancarevic. Ozkacar crossed again at the end of the first half, but once more the best player for Armenia Cancarevic was there to make a comfortable save.
Bichackhchyan tried at the third extra minute with a shot from a distance but his shot was well wide. Armenia and Turkey produced a good first half and both teams wanted to score. Turkey was more concrete and had more chances with Celik, Under, Akturkoglu, and Yilmaz.
📌 Eskişehir'de soyunma odasına beraberlikle gidiliyor. pic.twitter.com/BNncX1KJTT
— TRT Spor (@trtspor) September 8, 2023
Second Half
The second half started with Under trying to pass Cancarevic but his shot was saved. Turkey wanted to keep the record of winning as Armenia was defending tight.
Armenia found the goal first with Dashyan passing Gunok and putting Armenia forward in the 49th.
Cengiz Under goes down in the 51st, but Cancarevic’s challenge was judged fair by the Italian referee Daniele Orsato.
Ranos had the chance to make it 2-0 in the 53rd, but his shot went wide. Turkey responds with Under who combined with Baris Yilmaz and shoots inside the box with the ball that is inches wide from the right post.
Turkey started to build up from the back as they needed extra quality to go upfront and create chances. At the same time, Armenia suffered their pressure and waited with two lines behind the ball.
Calhanoglu combined with Under with his shot that went wide. Stefan Kuntz decides to interfere and makes three subs in the 61st. Zeki Celik is replaced my Mert Muldur. Ismail Yuksek is off and Irfan Can Kahveci comes on. The third substitution is in the center of the attack with Baris Yilmaz leaving the pitch after an injury, for Halil Dervisoglu.
Petrakov responded with two replacements in the 62nd, Grant Leon Ranos and Vahan Bichackhchyan walked off the pitch and Sergis Adamyan and Artur Serobyan came on. Armenia wanted to defend their advantage as they needed strong legs to defend against Turkey.
Last 25 minutes…
Cancarevic almost makes a fatal error losing the ball in the six-yard box, but none of the opponents was not able to profit. Dervisoglu tried in the 70th from the distance but the Armenian keeper saved his shot.
Cancarevic was adventurous in the 75th, making a foul outside his box to Akturkoglu but escaped with a yellow.
Armenia players combined really well in the 79th but they could not create a clear shooting opportunity. Zelaryan tried in the 81st from a free kick, but his shot did not find the target.
Kuntz replaces Akturkoglu with Bertug Yildirim in the 80th minute
Zelaryan was substituted one minute later by Norberto Briasko. Mert Muldur was intense in the right wing but neither of his cross or long throw were not useful in the 84th.
Turkey found the equalizer in the 88th with Bertug Yildirim who scored in an empty net. Debut goal for the 21-year-old who changed the history of the game.
GOOOOOLLLLL! Aradığımız golü Bertuğ ile bulduk! İlk milli maç, ilk gol! 🇹🇷⚽ pic.twitter.com/OTEAgAlDWy
— TRT Spor (@trtspor) September 8, 2023
Demiral takes a yellow in the 92nd with Turkey who wanted to finish the match with the three points. Under crossed in the 95th, but his ball went straight into the hands of Cancarevic. Mert Muldur tried with a header in the 98th minute but the Armenian keeper is on his best day.
The match was over with the two teams that share one point each and look forward to the matches against Croatia on two separate dates. Armenia plays Croatia first on 11 September and then Turkey travels to Croatia on 12 October.
