Soccer Turkey edge Romania to reach playoff final with Guler-inspired win

2026-03-26 - 20:01

ISTANBUL – Turkey moved within one game of ending their long World Cup absence as Ferdi Kadioglu’s second-half goal ​secured a 1-0 win over Romania in their playoff ‌semi-final on Thursday, following a moment of brilliance from Arda Guler. In a high-stakes encounter at Besiktas Park, the deadlock was broken in the 53rd ​minute when Real Madrid midfielder Guler produced a superb defence-splitting ​pass to pick out Kadioglu, who controlled and finished ⁠calmly to give the hosts the lead. That proved decisive in ​a tight contest between two sides seeking a return to the ​World Cup after long absences, with Turkey last appearing in 2002 and Romania in 1998. Guler said the move had been discussed in the dressing room ​at halftime as Turkey looked to break down Romania’s defensive block. “We ​discussed the goal at the halftime break. I would get the ball and ‌Ferdi ⁠would make a run into the penalty box. It happened exactly how we planned it,” he told Turkish broadcaster TV8. Turkey grew in confidence after going ahead and came close to doubling their ​advantage shortly afterwards, ​with Juventus’ Kenan ⁠Yildiz cutting in from the left and striking the crossbar with a superb curling effort. Romania, who ​had kept the hosts at bay in a ​cautious first ⁠half, pushed forward in search of an equaliser but were unable to break through as Turkey held firm to see out the ⁠victory. The ​win sends Turkey into the playoff final ​on March 31, where they will face Slovakia or Kosovo for a place at ​the 2026 World Cup.