LUXEMBOURG 1-2 TURKEY

  


Turkish A National Team, coached by Fatih Terim, beat Luxembourg away 2-1 in a friendly game.

The match was played in Josy Barthel Stadium, Luxembourg, Luxembourg and Turkey's goals came from Mevlüt Erdinç (Min. 4) and Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Min. 87) while Mario Mutsch (Min. 30) hit the target for Luxembourg.

Stadium: Josy Barthel

Referees: Alan Mario Sant, Edward Spiteri, William Debattista (Malta)

Luxembourg: Joubert, Chanot, Schnell, Philipps (Min. 70 Deville), Gerson, Da Mota (Min. 76 Laterza), Payal, Joachim, Malget, Mutsch, Jans

Turkey: Mert Günok, Mahmut Tekdemir, Ozan Tufan, Şener Özbayraklı, Mehmet Ekici (Min. 70 Selçuk İnan), Caner Erkin, Arda Turan (Min. 88 Ümit Kurt), Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Kazım Kazım (Min. 46 Volkan Şen) (Min. 75 Eren Albayrak), Olcay Şahan (Min. 58 Enes Ünal), Mevlüt Erdinç (Min. 46 Umut Bulut)

Goals: Min. 4 Mevlüt Erdinç, Min. 87 Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Turkey), Min. 30 Mutsch (Luxembourg)

Luxembourg 1-2 Turkey: Calhanoglu stakes claim with late winner

A late Hakan Calhanoglu goal prevented an embarrassing draw with minnow Luxembourg on Tuesday, as Turkey emerged slender 2-1 winner.

Hakan Calhanoglu staked his claim for a starting spot in Fatih Terim's Turkey team by scoring a late winner in Tuesday's 2-1 win over minnow Luxembourg, avoiding an embarrassing draw.

The Bayer Leverkusen ace has been in fine form for his club this term, though Terim has often opted to leave him waiting in the wings as he did for Saturday's 1-1 draw with the Netherlands, but he proved decisive at Stade Josy Barthel.

Terim made a host of changes from the weekend, seemingly bowing to pressure from supporters to start Calhanoglu and things began well, Mevlut Erding brilliantly opening up an early lead. The away side unsurprisingly dictated the tempo, though Luxembourg looked a danger on the counterattack and went into the break level thanks to Mario Mutsch's precise finish just after the half-hour.

Having earlier rattled the bar as Turkey's attempts to retake the lead looked set to end up fruitless, Calhanoglu's 30-yard drive took a deflection and looped into the net with three minutes to play.

Calhanoglu was just one of nine changes in Terim's team but it started strongly, despite the upheaval, moving the ball with fluidity and seizing the early initiative.

It took Turkey just four minutes to make its superiority tell, Erding catching Jonathan Joubert off his line with an exquisite lob from 25 yards.

Turkey continued to control proceedings, though it failed to build upon its early opener and the home side punished it to draw level with 32 minutes on the clock as Mutsch was allowed to charge unchecked up the right flank and he eventually tried his luck from 25 yards, striking across the ball and seeing his effort go in off the left-hand post.

Turkey almost retook the lead five minutes before the break, as Erding's clever flick landed kindly for Olcay Sahan near the penalty spot, but Kevin Malget produced a vital block to halt the danger. 

Terim introduced Volkan Sen and Umut Bulut from the bench at the break and the former looked Turkey's best bet in front of goal, forcing Joubert into diving save almost immediately, before blasting just wide in the 57th minute.

Luxembourg remained threatening, however, and nearly took the lead itself four minutes later, Laurent Jans seeing his effort headed clear just in front of the goal line by Ozan Tufan.

Turkey continued to pile on the pressure towards the end, with Calhanoglu's set-pieces proving problematic. 

But it was from open play that the Leverkusen star made the difference, seeing his effort from distance strike a defender and fly past the helpless Joubert, though the win will likely leave Terim with more questions than answers.