Turkey locked horns with Portugal on Saturday in a crucial Euro 2024 Group F showdown. However, any hope of getting a positive result against one of the tournament favorites was quickly dashed by a comical first-half own goal.
The Crescent-Stars kicked off their campaign with a thrilling 3-1 win over Georgia, thus leaving them tied with Cristiano and Co. on three points. This means a win over Roberto Martinez's men would have secured progression to the last 16 with a game to spare.
Unfortunately, Vincenzo Montella's men conceded twice in the span of seven minutes, with Bernardo Silva breaking the deadlock after a Nuno Mendes cut-back fortuitously landed at his feet.
Things went from bad to worse for the Turkish a few minutes later as a horrible error at the back handed Portugal their second goal of the game on a silver plate.
A Seleção were on the attack but Joao Cancelo, who misread Cristiano Ronaldo's run, surrendered possession to Turkey. However, Samet Akaydin, who collected Cancelo's poor pass, did not realize his goalkeeper had left his line and mistakenly passed the ball into the back of his own net.
Check out this horrendous own goal in the clips below (videos are geo-restricted).
WHAT JUST HAPPENED!?!?!
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 22, 2024
PORTUGAL SOMEHOW DOUBLES ITS LEAD pic.twitter.com/SfL2EBfv1i
You don't see that very often
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 22, 2024
Portugal double their advantage in very bizarre circumstance #Euro2024 | #TURPOR pic.twitter.com/zNdpga7VW1
Goal!
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) June 22, 2024
Look away Türkiye fans! Defensive howler as Samet Akaydin turns the ball into his own net. #Euro2024 | #beINEURO | #HomeofEuro pic.twitter.com/px2LfCTDip
Portugal went 3-0 up shortly before the hour mark, with Cristiano Ronaldo unselfishly assisting Bruno Fernandes to score into an empty net to seal his nation's progression.
While Turkey boast three points, they could enter their final group-stage fixture needing to win to progress to the last 16.
The Crescent-Stars face the Czech Republic on Wednesday. The Czech picked up their first point earlier on Saturday, drawing 1-1 with Georgia. This means Schick and Co. will also enter the final fixture needing a result to make the knockout stage — while a draw should suffice for Turkey, the Falcons will have to win.