Germany scores late to advance
By RAF CASERT, Associated Press
Jun 25, 2008 3:51 PM CDT
Germany's Philipp Lahm,, left, scores his side's third goal during the semifinal match between Germany and Turkey in Basel, Switzerland, Wednesday, June 25, 2008, at the Euro 2008 European Soccer Championships in Austria and Switzerland. Germany defeated Turkey 3-2. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)   (Associated Press)

Philipp Lahm ended Turkey's storybook run in the European Championship on Wednesday with a late goal in a 3-2 semifinal victory that kept Germany on target for a record fourth title.

In a wild finish that many people around the world did not see because the international TV feed went out, Lahm finished off the surprising Turks off a give-and-go with Thomas Hitzlsperger in the 90th minute. Lahm cut in from the left, set up a passing one-two, collected the ball and shot it past Rustu Recber to unleash the joy of some 20,000 German fans at St. Jakob Park.

With two goals in the final five minutes, the match could have gone either way, but after three stunning comeback victories in a row for Turkey, it was Germany's day.

First, Semih Senturk kept Turkey in the game with an 86th-minute equalizer, beating Jens Lehmann at the near post.

Ugur Boral gave Turkey the lead in the 22nd, but Bastian Schweinsteiger equalized in the 26th. Miroslav Klose then scored in the 79th to put the Germans ahead, setting up the thrilling finish.

Late in the match, a protester carry a banner with the word "Tibet" on it ran onto the field and was subdued by security officers. Earlier, two players _ Simon Rolfes of Germany and Ayhan Akman _ need to have their foreheads stapled by trainers to stop bloody wounds. Neither of them finished the game.

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