Turkey trounces Greece, 4-1
Turkey thrashed European champions Greece 4-1 in their Euro 2008 qualifier in Athens on Saturday night to move three points clear at the top of Group C. Both teams went into the game with perfect records after three rounds of play. Greece’s home defeat at the soldout 33,000-capacity Karaiskaki Stadium was marred further by several incidents involving Greek fans that are likely to lead to sanctions by UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, for the Greek team. Throughout the game, local fans tossed various objects, including broken flagpoles, soft drink cans and flares onto the pitch, usually as Turkish players prepared for corner kicks. Turkey’s goalkeeper Volkan Demirel also needed to remain vigilant as fans in the stands behind him steadily pelted him with objects. Also, some fighting also broke out between Greek fans, while the Turkish anthem was derided prior to kickoff. As punishment, Greece is expected to play at least one home game before empty stands. The evening’s only pleasant news for the Greek team came from Norway, where the hosts – who, along with Greece and Turkey, are expected to fight for Group C’s top two spots and berths for the Euro 2008 finals – suffered a surprise 2-1 home defeat against Bosnia-Herzegovina. The victory’s three points moved Bosnia up to third with seven points from five games. Norway, with a game less, slipped to fourth with six points. Greece took the lead in the fifth minute of play when defender Sotiris Kyrgiakos turned and drilled the ball past goalkeeper Volkan Demirel. Tuncay Sanli leveled in the 25th minute. Gorgkhan Unal made it 2-1 in the 55th minute and Tumer Metin added a third in the 70th. Gokdeniz Karadeniz completed the annihilation in the 80th minute. Greece now plays Malta in Valletta on Wednesday. Malta drew, 1-1, in Moldova on Saturday.
