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Sport - Football

Mansiz serves up a Turkish delight

OSAKA June 22. Lightning-quick Senegal finally ran out of steam as hardworking Turkey marched into its first World Cup semifinal.

A golden goal in the fourth minute of extra time from Ilhan Mansiz decided a compelling quarterfinal encounter. The 1-0 victory was a just reward for the Turks who had several chances, many of which were spurned by captain and all-time leading scorer Hakan Sukur. He was replaced in the second half by goal-scorer Mansiz.

There was little of the swagger and sudden bursts of creativity that proved so lethal in Senegal's stunning march into the quarterfinals in its first ever World Cup, which included a shock 1-0 win over defending champion France. Instead, Senegal looked tired and predictable and there was little running off the ball.

Turkey, in only its second World Cup, built a formidable defensive wall, brilliantly led by Bulent Korkmaz. Up front, the tireless Hasan Sas created chance after chance with his weaving runs.

Turkey now plays Brazil in the semifinal — a rematch of their stormy Group C match which the South Americans won 2-1.

``When we advanced to the second round, we thought: what an achievement,'' said Mansiz. ``But this is beyond anyone's dreams.''

Turkish coach Senol Gunes hailed the victory as `one of the greatest days.' ``Everyone played his part in this,'' he said.

Senegal matched Africa's best ever showing at a World Cup: Cameroon's place in the last eight in 1990. ``We leave with our heads high,'' said striker El Hadji Diouf, who had his first disappointing game of the tournament. ``We came here small, we leave big.''

Gunes, who had come under fire back home during the group stages, said the game should have been settled long before extra time. ``We controlled the game very well,'' he said. ``We did what we wanted and controlled in every part of the field, but we missed chances.''

In the 27th minute, Sas crossed to Sukur who, unmarked and right in front of goal, inexplicably missed the ball which rolled agonizingly under his foot. Sukur, who has scored 35 times for his country, has yet to find the net at the World Cup.

Moments later, Sas was again on the attack, but his lofted cross just ran away from Sukur. The Parma striker then had yet another chance but failed to connect with a left-wing cross near the far post.

Almost from start to finish, Turkey imposed play against sluggish Senegal, which had lost much of its fizz from the first four games. ``We were always in trouble,'' said Senegal's right back Ferdinand Coly.

The winner came after Umit Davala took the ball on the right and sent a low cross toward Senegal's goal. Mansiz outran Lamine Diatta to get a fraction earlier to the ball and steer it past goalkeeper Tony Sylva.

It illustrated how Turkey had always been a touch earlier on the ball. ``The players were tired,'' said Senegal coach Bruno Metsu.

But he praised them nevertheless. ``This gives us great hope,'' he said. ``I hope what we saw today will give momentum to African soccer.''

Senegal was aiming to become the first African team to make it to the last four of a World Cup. Earlier in the day, co-host South Korea had become the first Asian team to do so.

Its best chances came in the 19th minute when Khalilou Fadiga had a powerful shot from inside the area which was bundled over the line by Henri Camara, but he was rightly flagged for offside and the goal didn't stand.

Four minutes later, Fadiga, receiving a reverse pass from Diouf, saw his shot crash into the side netting. In the last minute of normal time, Senegal — forced onto the backfoot and looking increasingly pedestrian — finally strung four passes together but Camara's shot was too weak and didn't trouble Rustu Recber.

The line-ups:

Senegal: 1-Tony Sylva, 2-Omar Daf, 4-Papa Malick Diop, 6-Aliou Cisse (captain), 7-Henri Camara, 10-Khalilou Fadiga, 11-El Hadji Diouf, 13-Lamine Diatta, 15-Salif Diao, 17-Ferdinand Coly, 19-Papa Bouba Diop.

Turkey: 1-Rustu Recber, 2-Bulent Korkmaz, 4-Fatih Akyel, 5-Alpay Ozalan, 8-Tugay Kerimoglu, 9-Hakan Sukur (captain) (17-Ilhan Mansiz, 67th), 10-Yildiray Basturk, 11-Hasan Sas, 18-Ergun Penbe, 21-Emre Belozoglu, 22-Umit Davala.

Referee: Oscar Ruiz (Colombia). — AP

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