Turkey looses friendly match against Czech Republic 2-0

MANISA - Anatolia News Agency

Turkey's next official game will be against Andorra on March 22. AA photo

The Turkish national team lost 2-0 against the Czech Republic in a friendly game tonight in Manisa. Turkey, known for having a very poor record of wins in friendly games, was off to a disastrous start with the first match of the season, conceding a goal in the third minute. Left-winger Ladislav Krejci scored in the penalty area after a pass from veteran Czech forward David Lafata.

The visiting team dominated the entire first half of the game and the Sparta Prague striker Lafita doubled the score in the 28th minute after a corner kick. The first dangerous attack from the Turkish team came in the 30th minute of the game from Galatasaray midfielder Selçuk İnan’s free kick.

Turkish players began the second half by putting more pressure onto their rivals. In the 54th minute Sercan Seraer came close to scoring after Atletico Madrid star player Arda Turan’s pass, but the Czech goalkeeper Jan Lastuvka saved the shoot. Galatasaray’s forward Umut Bulut failed twice to level the score in the 70th and the 77th minute of the game.

The game made the Turkish National squad’s seventh defeat in 13 games with coach Abdullah Avcı, who replaced Guus Hiddink as the team’s manager.

The Turkish team is currently in trouble of qualifying for the World Cup of Brazil and will play its next official game away against Andorra on March 22 before heading back to Turkey to try and obtain a critical win against Hungary on March 26.