Turkey defeat Republic of Ireland 2-1 in Dublin

The Republic of Ireland fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat against Turkey in a friendly A at Aviva Stadium Dublin tonight organised by Milenio Sports Management.

In what was Martin O’Neill’s fourth game in charge of Ireland, the first goal went to the visitors with Ahmet Ilhan Ozek finding the net on 17 minutes with a close-range header.

The goal came from a good move that saw Gokhan Gonul pick out his teammate with a swift cross from the right flank to fire past goalkeeper Rob Elliot, who was making his senior debut.

Turkey got their second goal on 75 minutes when Osman Tarik Camdal had an instant impact upon coming on as a substitute as he converted past Elliot after a clever pass from Oguzhan Ozyakup.

Ireland, though, pulled a goal back through substitute Jonathan Walters when he superbly controlled a lobbed pass from Wes Hoolahan to cut back inside his marker and blast in.

In fact, it was Ireland who played the better football in the first half with Shane Long, Stephen Ward, John O’Shea, Wes Hoolahan, and James McClean all going close with efforts.

On seven minutes, Ward ventured forward from left-back to fizz a shot just wide in response to an earlier shot from Turkey’s No 9, Mevlut Erdinc, who tested Elliot’s alertness.

Ireland continued to press on with Aiden McGeady’s delivery from a free-kick leading to Long unleashing a shot at keeper Onur Recep Kivrak and O’Shea having an effort cleared off the goal-line.

Turkey interrupted that good spell for the home team with their goal, but O’Neill’s side attempted to bounce back with Hoolahan and McClean both testing their luck with headed chances.

Yet it was the away team who got the next goal when Camdal drifted into space to collect a reverse pass from Ozyakup and bury the ball into the roof of Ireland’s net beside their travelling support.

It took only three minutes for Ireland to respond as Walters connected with a long pass from Hoolahan, controlled it and turned past the last defender before firing in a superb shot.

Ireland could not get a second goal to earn a draw, so they will now turn their focus to Saturday’s friendly against Italy in Craven Cottage before a two-game tour to the United States to play Portugal and Costa Rica.

Republic of Ireland: Elliot; Coleman, O’Shea, Delaney (Meyler 66), Ward; McGeady (Murphy 66), Whelan (Quinn 82), Wilson, McClean; Hoolahan; Long (Walters 66).

Turkey: Kivrak; Gonul, Toprak, Balta, Erkin; Sahin (Dogan 84); Ozek (Camdal 71), Inan (Ozyakup 21), Kisa (Tufan h-t), Calhanoglu (Adin 63); Erdinc (Pektemek 82).

Referee: R Buquet (France).