The moment Gordon Banks denied Pele at the 1970 World Cup is known as the ‘save of the century’ - this time the scene was played out in the pouring rain of Leipzig rather than the sweltering heat of Guadalajara. But Turkey goalkeeper Mert Gunok’s leap to somehow claw away Christoph Baumgartner’s header will live just as long in the memory of anyone, who saw it.
It was a crucial save, too, coming at the very end of a pulsating last-16 tie and denying Austria a last-gasp equaliser their manager Ralf Rangnick felt they fully deserved.
“We didn’t have the necessary luck and I believe if the game had gone to extra time we would have won,” said Rangnick. “We had time to score an equaliser, but it’s difficult when they have Gordon Banks in goal!”
Banks was also the name on all the pundits' lips, as they tried to describe Gunok’s save while his team-mates were sprinting to congratulate him when the final whistle was blown seconds later. “It’s Gordon Banks. Unbelievable. What a moment. The keeper just spins it around the post, it’s a brilliant save,” was former England defender Matthew Upson’s reaction on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“That is first class! It’s like a Gordon Banks replica,” said Lee Dixon on ITV. “That save from Gunok is one of the great saves of Euros history,” was Chris Sutton's verdict. According to the xG Philosophy, Gunok only had a 6% chance of making the save.
There have been several dramatic late goals in these Euros - think Jude Bellingham's brilliant strike for England against Slovakia on Sunday - but this was a save to match any of them, at an identical point of the match. Turkey were hanging on to a 2-1 lead in the face of relentless late pressure when, in the 94th minute, Austria mounted one last attack.
With the exhausted Turkey defence out on its feet, Baumgartner darted into space at the back post and directed his header downwards, the ball skidding off the wet turf and seemingly heading for the opposite corner... until 35-year-old Gunok found a way of getting across his goal to keep it out.
“How he saves it is unbelievable,” added Sutton, who seemed almost lost for words.
“I cannot think of a better game I've seen,” said Upson. “Drama, commitment. Wow, what a game. Baumgartner thought that was in the back of the net. He does everything right.
“Off that greasy surface, he's done so well. It was Gordon Banks, identical. The Turkish fans are going crazy.”
Gunok had five saves to make in all - including another close-range stop from Marko Arnautovic with the score at 1-0 - but his final stop was the one that sent Turkey through.
Turkey defender Merih Demiral, who scored twice - including the quickest knockout-stage goal in European Championship history - was named man of the match but paid tribute to Gunok afterwards.
“Mert did a great job, we had a big discussion after the final whistle and I couldn’t believe my eyes - maybe one of the best saves I saw with my own eyes,” Demiral said.
“He deserves it, Mert is the oldest player on the team and has always guided us and shown us the path forward, so I am very happy he made that save.”
