Monday 25 October 2010

Carmarthen Town

Today is the final set of matches in Group One of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship Qualifying Round, and with hosts Wales almost certain to claim one of the two places available in the draw for the Elite Round, this game between Iceland and Turkey will decide which country joins them.


Venue for the game at the end of a beautifully sunny autumn day is the Richmond Park home of Carmarthen Town.


It is a traditional town centre venue, with a large seated stand alongside one side of the ground.


The dominant structure on the other side of the ground is the building that houses the changing rooms on the ground floor, whilst the social club above these on the first floor enjoys excellent views across the pitch.


A draw will be enough to guarantee Turkey's progress, and they will be reasonably satisfied at half time after enjoying the majority of the possession, albeit that the scoreline remains 0-0.


Iceland have to go for a win, and they make the ideal start to the second half, taking a 48th minute lead as Andri Rafn Yeoman sets up Kristján Gauti Emilsson for a shot that finds the net via both posts.


Turkey respond quickly, with skipper Muhammet Demir equalising on 57 minutes from an Ömer Ali Şahiner knock down, and things go from bad to worse for Iceland just a minute later, Tómas Guðmundsson guilty of going into a challenge on Muhammet Demir with his studs showing, and receiving a straight red card from the Czech referee.


Turkey have chances to then make the game safe, most notably when Icelandic goalkeeper Árni Freyr Ásgeirsson touches an Ömer Ali Şahiner shot on to the bar, but Iceland's ten men are unable to create enough pressure to seriously threaten to get back into a winning position.


Deep into stoppage time Turkey secure a 2-1 win that guarantees top spot in the qualifying group, Orhan Gülle putting Ömer Ali Şahiner away on the break, with his pull back turned in by substitute Hasan Ahmet Sarı.