23 June 2002
Osaka, Japan — Turkey substitute Ilhan Mansiz swept home a golden goal four minutes into extra time against Senegal yesterday to send his team into the World Cup semi-finals for the first time.
The result brought to an end an African dream that started with Senegal beating then champions, France on the opening day three weeks ago.
On the way to yesterday's quarter finals, Senegal swept passed some of the best teams in the world. They became the only second African team (after Cameroon in 1990) to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.
Victory yesterday would have made this rookie side the first from Africa to reach the semis.
The whole of Africa remained behind Senegal yesterday hoping that that dream would be realised. It never came to happen but many retired happy that Senegal had put up a great show.
They were the less fancied of the five African sides but Cameroon, Nigeria, South Africa and Tunisia went home earlier.
Turkey will face four-times world champions Brazil in Saitama on Wednesday after Mansiz shot home on the half-volley from eight metres out following a right-wing cross by fellow substitute Arif Erdem.
The two sides had failed to score in regulation time despite a fast-flowing match in which Turkey created the better chances against the African debutants, most of which were wasted by Hakan Sukur, the player Ilhan replaced.
"After we qualified we have seen that no one is better than us," Ilhan said. "We have earned the place in the semi-final. We wanted to win this game and we did. As a team we fought hard.
After a cagey opening quarter, Turkey, playing in their first World Cup finals since 1954, came to life and created several good chances in the first half.
The 30-year-old Hakan Sukur squandered his best opportunity after 27 minutes when Hasan Sas's pass found him unmarked five metres out but he failed to control the ball.
Senegal defender Omar Daf superbly cleared a Yildiray Basturk header off the line a minute before the interval but the powerful Africans also had their moments.
Senegal striker El Hadji Diouf had one effort ruled out for off-side and just before the break only a fine tackle by Alpay Ozalan denied the African Footballer of The Year his first goal of the tournament.
Senegal had shocked the soccer world by defeating holders France in the tournament's opening game.
Draws against Denmark and Uruguay ensured they made the second round, where they defeated Sweden 2-1 in extra time with a golden goal.
After a controversial defeat by Brazil, in which two Turkish players were sent off and Brazil forward Rivaldo was fined for play-acting, the Turks did well to progress and defeated co-hosts Japan 1-0 in their second round match to reach the last eight.
Diouf and Basturk both threatened to break the deadlock at the start of the second half.
Umit Davala, scorer of two goals in the tournament, began to cause problems for Senegal down the right flank but Sukur continued to disappoint and after 67 minutes he was benched.
Germany will play South Korea in the other semi-final on Tuesday after the tournament co-hosts beat Spain 5-3 in a penalty shootout following a goalless draw earlier yesterday.
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