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45 90 AUT TUR Substitution Yellow cards Substitution Yellow cards Yellow cards Penalty Substitution Austria out of the running after Turkey tie

06 September 2011 23:09 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Austria’s chances of reaching UEFA EURO 2012 have evaporated following a 0-0 draw at home against Turkey in Group A, with Arda Turan missing a late penalty for the visitors, APA reports quoting uefa.com.

Fielding a makeshift midfield in the absence of Emre BelÃ¶zoÄŸlÃ¼ and the suspended SelÃ§uk Ä°nan, Turkey will be pleased enough with the result, which keeps them two points clear of third-ranked Belgium in the race for the runners-up slot, but the writing is on the wall for Austria, who needed to win to keep their hopes of a finals place alive.

A lively opening period saw the hosts cause Turkey problems on the counterattack, Marko ArnautoviÄ‡ looking dangerous as Christian Fuchs and David Alaba provided industry down the left. Turkey settle, though, and Arda, Umut Bulut and Burak YÄ±lmaz had the best efforts of the first half.

ArnautoviÄ‡ tested Volkan Demirel with a long-range effort early in the second half, but the SV Werder Bremen striker was again denied. Umut then dragged the ball wide after Arda had forced a save from debutant keeper Pascal GrÃ¼nwald, and Burak headed Sabri SarioÄŸlu’s inviting cross just wide with GrÃ¼nwald beaten.

Play intensified 20 minutes from the end. Burak’s header skimmed off the bar after another telling delivery from Sabri, and moments later ArnautoviÄ‡ saw Volkan block a close-range effort with his legs, before a SelÃ§uk Åžahin piledriver flashed just off target at the other end. Martin Harnik had a goal chalked off for offside, before GrÃ¼nwald fouled Burak to concede a penalty, which Arda crashed against a post.

Turkey take on Germany in their next game on 7 October, with Austria visiting Azerbaijan the same day.