Mert Gunok's wonder-save at Euro 2024 sparks Turkish celebrations, and praise from Austrian rivals
Austria's Christoph Baumgartner, right, reacts following a save by Turkey's goalkeeper Mert Gunok, left, during a round of sixteen match at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. . Credit: AP/Fabio Ferrari
LEIPZIG, Germany — A moment of Mert Gunok brilliance sparked celebrations for Turkish fans and a big exclamation from Austria rival Michael Gregoritsch, who described it as one of the best saves he’d ever seen.
Goalkeeper Gunok pulled off one of the saves of the European Championship deep into injury time on Tuesday to secure Turkey’s place in the quarterfinals.
He leaped instinctively into a full-stretch dive to his right to palm away a close-range header from Austria’s Christoph Baumgartner four minutes into stoppage time, preserving his team’s 2-1 win and preventing the round-of-16 match from going into extra time.
“I think that’s one of the best saves I’ve ever seen live on the field,” Gregoritsch said. “You have to give credit to the Turkish goalkeeper because I think it was extremely difficult to stop. Unbelievable, really.”
Austria coach Ralf Rangnick was asked if the goal reminded him of England goalkeeper Gordon Banks’ famous stop to deny Pelé at the 1970 World Cup.
“True,” he replied.
Later, Rangnick rued the save, saying he was sure that if the ball had gone in, Austria would have gone on to win the match.
Turkey's goalkeeper Mert Gunok saves the ball during a round of sixteen match between Austria and Turkey at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Credit: AP/Ebrahim Noroozi
“With Gordon Banks in goal, that was the last chance that we had,” the German coach said.
It was Gunok’s fourth big save of the game, including a one-on-one situation against Marko Arnautovic.
It meant Merih Demiral’s two goals were enough to send Turkey through to a quarterfinal against the Netherlands in Berlin’s Olympiastadion on Saturday.