The Turkish national team hosted and defeated Hungary 3-1 in the first leg of the Nations League playoff. This victory was largely thanks to the partnership between Kerem Akturkoglu and Orkun Kokçu, who played a crucial role in all three Turkish goals.
Imagine a perfectly weighted pass, like a key fitting into a lock. That’s what happened when Akturkoglu scored the first goal, a beautiful shot from outside the box, just nine minutes into the game. The Hungarian goalkeeper didn’t stand a chance.
But Hungary quickly responded, with Schafer scoring the equalizer in the 25th minute, assisted by Varga. The Turks suffered a setback when Ayhan got injured and had to be substituted by Muldur, putting his participation in the second leg in doubt.
Kokçu, on the other hand, is a certainty – but not in a good way. He received a yellow card, which means he’ll miss the second leg. The same goes for the other goal scorer, until now. Good news for Benfica, though.
In the second half, Akturkoglu took center stage again, scoring with a header in the 69th minute, assisted by Aydin. This time, it was a cross that found its way to the Turkish player.
Just seconds later, Kokçu was fouled by Kahveci, and Akturkoglu provided a brilliant assist, using his chest to set up the third Turkish goal. The shot by the Fenerbahçe player, coached by José Mourinho, was spectacular, but Akturkoglu’s assist was the real masterpiece.
With this win, the Turkish team, led by Montella, has a two-goal advantage going into the second leg in Hungary. If they can maintain this lead, they’ll return to the top tier of the Nations League next season. Also noteworthy was the debut of Deniz Gul, a forward who plays for FC Porto, who came on at halftime.
Key Players and Stats
- Kerem Akturkoglu: 2 goals, 1 assist
- Orkun Kokçu: 1 goal, 1 assist, 1 yellow card
- Aydin: 1 assist
- Kahveci: 1 foul leading to a goal
- Deniz Gul: debut for the Turkish national team
This win sets the stage for an exciting second leg, where the Turks will look to maintain their advantage and secure their spot in the top tier of the Nations League.