Playing their second friendly match in their pre-EURO 2008 tournament, Turkey were beaten 3-2 Uruguay in front of 13786 fans packed at rewirpowerSTADION in Bochum. Strikes coming from Arda Turan and Nihat Kahveci were not enough for Turkey as penalty goals changed the course of the game twice.
FC Bayern München midfielder Hamit Altıntop celebrated his return to the national team after totally recovering from the injury on his second metatarsal bone in his right foot. Coach Fatih Terim did not hesitate to give the player a starting eleven chance against Uruguay.
Yıldıray Baştürk who was given the chance to start an international by Fatih Terim after a long time assisted to Arda Turan who headed the ball into the net on 13th minute.
On 30th minute Luis Suarez was fouled by Turkey goalkeeper Volkan Demirel inside the penalty area. Suarez took the penalty himself and made no mistake from the spot, equalizing the score.
Through the end of the first half, Turkish defence's composition was far from being solid and as Uruguay intensified their attacks.
Terim started the second half by revising his team's right-wing. Sabri Sarıoğlu came on for Hamit, while Ayhan Akman replaced Fenerbahçe SK's Kazım Kazım. Those two changes brought a goal five minutes later. Turkey made it 2-1 thanks to a spectacular free-kick by Villarreal CF stiker Nihat Kahveci.
On 63rd minute substitute Sebastien Fernandez missed a clear chance to score when Turkish defence caught in the line for ne reason, but he blasted the ball wide.
On 78th minute Luis Suarez scored his second goal and leveled the game once again by capitalizing a dreadful mistake by Gökhan Zan in the penalty area, when Turkey were outnumbered in the defence.
On 85th minute, Luis Suarez was fouled in the box by Emre Belözoğlu this time. Rodriguez converted the penalty and this concluded the successful comeback for Uruguay in the match.
Turkey will face Finland next Thursday (29 May) in the third friendly match of Germany camp in Duisburg.
Stadium: rewirpowerSTADION
Turkey: Volkan, Hakan Balta, Gökhan (Mevlüt 87), Emre Belözoğlu (Halil 65), Mehmet Topal, Nihat, Yıldıray (Tuncay 65), Arda (Tümer 60), Emre Aşık, Hamit (Sabri 46), Kazım (Ayhan 46)
Uruguay: Carini, Alcoba, Godin, Gargano, Caceres, Eguren, Suarez, Cavani, (Fernandez 46),Pereira (Silva 68), Gimenez (Rodriguez 56), Gonzalez (Flores 75)
Goals: Arda 13, Nihat 51 (Turkey), Suarez 31 (pen), 78, Rodriguez 85 (pen) (Uruguay)