Aktürkoğlu and Kökçü find the net for the visitors, as Turkey finish second in Group G, to secure a play-off spot. Montenegro are out of World Cup contention!
Turkey booked a World Cup play-off spot, as they came back from a goal down, to edge past Montenegro 2-1 away on Tuesday. The result means the the Turks finish second in Group G, behind automatic qualifiers Netherlands and one place ahead of Norway.
The Dutch beat the Norwegians 2-0, to top the group with 23 points from 10 games, ahead of Turkey with 21 points. The Scandinavian outfit miss out on qualification, as they finish in third, with 18 points.
Turkey got off to a terrible start as they conceded a fourth minute goal, when Montenegro forward Fatos Bećiraj volleyed the ball past goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır, from inside the box.
Turkey levelled in the 22nd minute when Galatasaray forward Muhammed Kerem Aktürkoğlu scored with a bicycle kick, following a superb cross from midfielder Abdülkadir Ömür.
Turkey applied immense pressure in the second half and they were successful on the hour, when 20-year-old forward Orkun Kökçü’s drive from outside the box, left keeper Matija Šarkić completely helpless.
Montenegro finish fourth in the table with 12 points. The Balkans’ outfit were destined to finish in that position, regardless of the result here.
Turkey are now in for an anxious wait on the draw that will decide who their play-off opponents will be. Montenegro must now regroup and look towards qualification for the European Championships 2024, which will be held in Germany.
