10.10.2015 22:42 h

Turkey beat Czechs to keep Euro play-off hopes alive

Selcuk Inan and Hakan Calhanoglu handed Turkey a 2-0 win over the Czech Republic in Prague on Saturday, putting their team on the brink of securing a Euro 2016 play-off berth.

With the Czechs and Iceland already qualified from Group A, the result leaves Turkey two points ahead of the Netherlands in a fight for the third spot with a single game to play.

In the last qualifiers on October 13, the Dutch host the Czechs and Turkey welcome Iceland.

A point will be enough for Turkey following a draw and their home win in head-to-head encounters with the Netherlands.

Galatasaray midfielder Inan scored from the penalty spot on 62 minutes after Czech defender Filip Novak, playing his second international game, had brought down Serdar Aziz in the box.

Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Calhanoglu made it 2-0 on 80 minutes after a cross from Arda Turan found him unmarked in front of the Czech goal, with Novak taking the blame again.

Earlier on Saturday in Group A, the Netherlands beat Kazakhstan 2-1 at Astana while group leaders Iceland were held to a 2-2 draw by Latvia at Reykjavik.