A GOLDEN GOAL by Ilhan Mansiz sent Turkey into the semi-finals and Senegal crashing out of the World Cup.

With only three minutes having passed in extra-time, Mansiz pounced onto Umit Davallan's cross to direct a deft half-volley past Tony Sylva in Senegal's goal and book a semi-final encounter with Brazil.

In a World Cup of endless shocks and surprises, Turkey's progression to the last four deserves recognition as it's only the second time that the country has competed in the World Cup finals and to reach the last four has surpassed all expectations, as had their own odyssey, even though it ended today in the quarter-finals.

For both sides, today's performance failed to reflect the heights they have reached in the tournament. Maybe the pressure of the occasion got to them, but it wasn't the most entertaining spectacle for the disinterested observer.

Turkey, perhaps, deserved the victory more by showing more purpose and determination to get forward than their African opponents.

Yet, it was Senegal who nearly took the lead when Fadiga's goal-bound shot on 19 minutes unfortunately struck team-mate Henri Camera just as it was about to reach its target.

Even though, Camara composed himself sufficiently to fire the ball home, by then the whistle had blown for off-side.

But it was Turkey who were guilty of the greater profligacy in front of goal, and chief culprit was former Turkish golden boy Hakan Suker, who has been struggling to regain his form of old. He miscontrolled a ball in the box which would have seen him set fair to fire home, and failed to connect with a teasing cross whipped across the front of goal.

However, Suker can be excused from squandering the Turks' best chance in the first half. That fell to Basturk, who cottoned on to Sas' through ball only to see his header scrambled off the line by Omar Daf.

The second-half started with Turkey against in the ascendant and Senegal struggling to recapture the fluid, counter-attacking football which had made them a revelation against France and Uruguay.

There were no surprises when Suker was substituted for Ilhan Mansiz on 69 minutes, yet the addition of Mansiz's guile to the Turkish forward line failed to prevent the game going to extra-time, with Senegal having little to show beyond a few tame long range efforts.

But after only three minutes, Umit Davalan broke down the right and crossed to Mansiz whose goal broke brave Senegal's hearts, while sending Turkey into the semi-finals and another showdown with Brazil, who defeated them 2-1 in the first round.

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