- Writer, Chris Bevan
- Position, BBC Sport journalist at Pink Bull Area
The second Gordon Banks denied Pele on the 1970 World Cup is named the ‘save of the century’ – however have we simply seen one other cease to match it?
This time the scene was performed out within the pouring rain of Leipzig quite than the sweltering warmth of Guadalajara, however Turkey goalkeeper Mert Gunok’s leap to someway claw away Christoph Baumgartner’s header will reside simply as lengthy within the reminiscence of anybody who noticed it.
It was a vital save, too, coming on the very finish of a pulsating last-16 tie and denying Austria a last-gasp equaliser their supervisor Ralf Rangnick felt they totally deserved.
“We did not have the mandatory luck and I consider if the sport had gone to further time we might have received,” mentioned Rangnick.
“We had time to attain an equaliser, however it’s troublesome once they have Gordon Banks in purpose!”
Banks was additionally the identify on all of the pundits’ lips, as they tried to explain Gunok’s save whereas his team-mates have been sprinting to congratulate him when the ultimate whistle was blown seconds later.
“It is Gordon Banks. Unbelievable. What a second. The keeper simply spins it across the submit, it is a sensible save,” was former England defender Matthew Upson’s response on Radio 5 Dwell.
“That’s top notch! It is like a Gordon Banks reproduction,” mentioned Lee Dixon on ITV.
“That save from Gunok is without doubt one of the nice saves of Euros historical past,” was Chris Sutton’s verdict.
‘Baumgartner thought that was in’
There have been a number of dramatic late targets in these Euros – suppose Jude Bellingham’s sensible strike for England in opposition to Slovakia on Sunday – however this was a save to match any of them, at an similar level of the match.
Turkey have been hanging on to a 2-1 lead within the face of relentless late stress when, within the 94th minute, Austria mounted one final assault.
With the exhausted Turkey defence out on its ft, Baumgartner darted into area on the again submit and directed his header downwards, the ball skidding off the moist turf and seemingly heading for the other nook… till 35-year-old Gunok discovered a means of getting throughout his purpose to maintain it out.
“How he saves it’s unbelievable,” added Sutton, who appeared nearly misplaced for phrases.
“I can’t consider a greater recreation I’ve seen,” mentioned Upson. “Drama, dedication. Wow, what a recreation. Baumgartner thought that was behind the online. He does every part proper.
“Off that greasy floor, he is accomplished so nicely. It was Gordon Banks, similar. The Turkish followers are going loopy.”
‘That’s his job, to make saves’
Turkey defender Merih Demiral, who scored twice – together with the quickest knockout-stage purpose in European Championship historical past – was named man of the match however paid tribute to Gunok afterwards.
“Mert did a fantastic job, we had an enormous dialogue after the ultimate whistle and I could not consider my eyes – possibly probably the greatest saves I noticed with my very own eyes,” Demiral mentioned.
“He deserves it, Mert is the oldest participant on the crew and has at all times guided us and proven us the trail ahead, so I’m very completely satisfied he made that save.”
Turkey boss Vincenzo Montella was one of many few folks to not use superlatives when speaking about Gunok’s cease, however he didn’t downplay its significance for his nation’s trigger.
“I do not know, as a result of there have been so many spectacular saves,” Montella mentioned when requested his ideas on the place Gunok’s save ranked within the all-time checklist.
“I’m completely satisfied for him, completely satisfied for the crew, completely satisfied for the nation and completely satisfied for the group we have now created right here and what we produced on the market right now.
“Effectively accomplished to Mert, that’s his job, to make saves and we’re very completely satisfied he made a match-winning save within the final minute.”
The reward for Turkey and their military of devoted followers is a quarter-final in opposition to the Netherlands in Berlin on Saturday, and Montella feels something is feasible with their help.
“Now we have an enormous following, there may be ardour and love,” he defined.
“It is extremely visceral again house in Turkey so I’m very completely satisfied to have handed our Turks right here in Germany a little bit of pleasure, and internationally.
“This duty, love and help we continually really feel it, however you may solely embrace these desires in the event you work laborious from day one – we are going to rejoice tonight however then we get right down to work.”
‘That is likely to be one of the best save I’ve ever seen’ – your response
Listed below are a number of the tweets and messages we acquired from BBC Sport readers within the moments after the save…
Andy: You may watch soccer for so long as you need and I do not suppose you may see a greater save than that. Simply up there with one of the best saves ever. Unbelievable.
Andrew: Mert Gunok with the right Peter Schmeichel tribute act on the dying.
JMG: That was a fully gorgeous save. In reality, gorgeous does not even do it justice. To tug that off within the ninety fifth minute, my phrase.
Howard: That save was arguably higher than Gordon Banks v Pele in 1970… as a result of it was in a successful trigger.
Richard: That is likely to be one of the best save I’ve ever seen. Unbelievable from Mert.
Steve: The photograph of that save by Gunok does not do it justice! Completely sensible. It’ll most likely find yourself in most prime prime saves of all time lists sooner or later!
Jon: I genuinely suppose that Gunok save is one of the best I’ve ever seen. Unbelievable!