Prayers of fans prevented Austria goal, says Turkish goalkeeper's dad

BERLIN : The father of Turkey goalkeeper Mert Gunok said divine intervention played a part in his son's miracle stoppage-time save against Austria that sustained his side's 2-1 lead and saw them through to the quarter-finals at Euro 2024. 

Austria's Christoph Baumgartner looked to have forced extra time with a superb late header, but Gunok threw himself to his right and somehow pawed the ball away to safety as Turkey hung on to win one of the best games of the tournament so far. 

"My son's stance and performance on the field at the last second made me happy. Maybe the prayers of all football fans, along with me, prevented that goal," his father Mahir, a former goalkeeper and coach, told newspaper Hurriyet. 

His son said he was also thankful for the prayers of Turkish supporters. 

"It was a great victory. I would like to thank everyone who prayed for us, we still have a long way to go," Gunok junior said. 

Turkey will face Netherlands in the quarter-finals in Berlin on Saturday evening, the first time since 2008 that they have made it to this stage of the tournament. 

"I think that with this spirit of unity and solidarity, we will overcome the Dutch obstacle," Mahir Gunok said.