Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 September 2023 | 7:30 pm | U21 International | 2023/24 |
Match Report
Emakhu Strikes Late To Give U21’s Massive Win
Substitute Aidomo Emakhu was the hero as his goal deep in stoppage time as the Republic of Ireland made a winning start to their Euro 2025 qualifying campaign.
The result was no more than Ireland deserved as they came from behind twice in the game. Kenan Yildiz put Turkey ahead from the penalty spot but Andrew Moran drew Ireland level in the 56th minute.
Turkey were in front again in the 76th minute but a penalty from Zak Gilsenan levelled matters in the 87th minute. In stoppage time Emakhu hit an excellent strike to send Turners Cross into raptures.
Ireland started the game well. In the second minute Sean Roughan’s well struck free-kick was headed out for a corner. In the fifth minute Roughan’s corner met the head of Sam Curtis but his effort was cleared off the line by Yasin Özcan.
Serdar Saatçı was booked for a foul in the eighth minute and was very lucky not to receive a second yellow after committing another foul straight after that.
Roughan hit a free in the ninth minute at the Turkish keeper as Ireland pressed for the opening goal. Curtis hit his effort wide in the 13th minute. Johnny Kenny broke in the 19th minute and went bearing down on goal but his final touch let him down and the Turkish keeper was able to save.
Against the run of play Turkey went ahead. Anselmo Garcia McNulty brought down Erencan Yardımcı in the box and Yıldız put away the spot-kick. Roughan blasted the ball over the bar in the 29th minute as Ireland tried to get back into the game while just before the break Yıldız hit his effort over the bar.
In the 51st minute Kenny brought a good save out of the Turkish netminder. Seconds later McNulty headed over from a corner.
Ireland pressed and won a number of corners. From a corner the clearance fell to Moran and he found the back of the net with a stunning volley to level matters in the 56th minute. Minutes later he thought he had put Ireland ahead but he had committed a foul in the build-up to the goal and it was disallowed.
Despite all the pressure they put on Turkey, Ireland fell behind again in the 76th minute when a ball was swung into the box and substitute Cihan Canak found the back of the net with an excellent finish.
Turkey were lucky not to be down to 10 players in the 77th minute when Destan appeared to headbutt Sean Grehan. Destan didn’t even receive a card.
Destan fouled Moran in the box in the 85th minute. Two minutes later Gilsenan dispatched the spot-kick to level for Ireland. In stoppage time the Turkish keeper made a superb save to deny Bosun Lawal.
There was time for late drama when subs Tony Springett and Emakhu combined to grab Ireland’s third goal and the winner.
Timeline
| 8' | 22. Serdar Saatçı | |
| 22' | 17. Kenan Yıldız | |
| 10. Andrew Moran | 56' | |
| 71' | Kenan Yıldız Cihan Canak | |
| Adam Murphy Zak Gilsenan | 72' | |
| Johnny Kenny Aidomo Emakhu | 72' | |
| 72' | Serdar Saatçı Emin Bayram | |
| 76' | 7. Cihan Canak | |
| 1. Josh Keeley | 78' | |
| 78' | 11. Erencan Yardımcı | |
| 80' | Bartuğ Elmaz Metehan Baltacı | |
| Sean Grehan Tony Springett | 84' | |
| 85' | 9. Enis Destan | |
| 21. Zak Gilsenan | 87' | |
| 15. Sean Roughan | 90' | |
| 15. Sean Roughan | 90+8' | |
| 22. Aidomo Emakhu | 90+6' |
Past Meetings
 
0 - 4European Amputee Football Championship
Aviva Stadium Republic of Ireland v Turkey |
Ground
| Turner's Cross |
|---|
| Beaufort Park, Turner\'s Cross C, Cork, County Cork, Munster, T12 E3H5, Ireland |
Deniese O'Flaherty
Deniese is a freelance sports journalist/broadcaster. She has worked for several local and national media outlets. GAA and soccer are her great loves and she also follows rugby league and snooker. She's a big supporter of her local clubs St. Mary's GAA Granard and Longford Town. She also follows Celtic, Liverpool and Leeds Rhinos. She presented and produced a popular sports podcast last year where she interviewed Ray Houghton, Chris Kamara and John Hartson. Deniese is currently Head of Communications for Boccia Ireland
What a win..
Substitute Sean Roughan is sent off for celebrating in front of the Turkish bench
Aidomo Emakhu has put Ireland in front. Great finish
What a save from Lawal
Sean Roughan is off
James Furlong is on
Sean Roughan is booked
And Ireland are level. Great penalty from substitute Zak Gilsenan
Andrew Moran is taken down in the box. Penalty Ireland
Sean Grehan is off
Tony Springett is on
Elmaz is off
Baltaci is on
Destan gets away with it as Jim Crawford is booked.
Sean Grehan appears to be headbutted by a Turkish player. Jim Crawford is very animated
The substitute Cihan Canak has put Turkey ahead again.
Adam Murphy goes off
Zak Gilsenan is on
Johnny Kenny is off
Aidomo Emakhu is on
Saatci goes off
Emin Bayram is on
Yildiz is off. Big surprise
Cihan Canak is on
Turkish defender and keeper clash. Both down
The Turkish manager is booked.
Moran thinks he has put Ireland ahead but there was a foul in the build-up and the ref had blown the whistle before the finish
Curtis fouled and a free for Ireland
And they get the equaliser we deserve. Andrew Moran with a superb finish.
And another corner. Sam Curtis is having a great game.
Another Ireland corner
McNulty heads over from the corner.
Turkish keeper saves from Johnny Kenny
Good ball in from Sam Curtis. Out for a throw-in
Kenan Yıldız blasts the ball over the bar. The Juventus player is a handful.
Sean Grehan does very well to put the ball out for a corner.
Sean Roughan blasts the ball over. Another good chance for Ireland.
Despite the boos and jeers Kenan Yıldız scores the penalty
Turkey break and they win a penalty. McNulty brings down Erencan Yardımcı in the box.
Johnny Kenny through on goal, last touch let him down and keeper able to save. It's been all Ireland.
Turkey playing it out from the back, Ireland pushing up on them.
Sam Curtis with a shot from distance goes wide.
Keeper gathers the ball ahead of Johnny Kenny
Sean Roughan's free is at the keeper
Ireland win a free in a good position.
Serdar Saatçı is booked.
Sean Roughan's corner, Sam Curtis with a fine header but it's cleared off the line by Yasin Özcan
Johnny Kenny does well to win a corner
Sean Roughan's well struck free is headed out for a corner.
Free for Ireland.
Anthems now.. Good crowd at the Cross and a fabulous evening.
After last year's heartbreak of losing to Israel, on penalties, in their play-off game for this year's U21 European Championship, Ireland will hope to go one better and qualify for the 2025 Championships. It would be the first time they've ever qualified for the tournament.
Jim Crawford has handed debuts to Cork native Matt Healy, Baba Adeeko and St. Patrick's Athletic's Adam Murphy.
The big team news is that Sinclair Armstrong has been called in by Stephen Kenny to the senior squad for their Euro 2024 game with The Netherlands on Sunday.
Good evening and welcome to Final Whistle's coverage of Ireland v Turkey in Group A of the U21 Euro 2025 Qualification campaign