Euro 2024: Mert Gunok compared to Gordon Banks after ‘incredible’ save sends Turkey into quarter-finals

The moment Gordon Banks denied Pele’s save at the 1970 World Cup is known as ‘the save of the century’ – but have we ever seen another save quite like it?

This time the scene took place in the pouring rain of Leipzig rather than the stifling heat of Guadalajara, but Turkish goalkeeper Mert Gunok’s leap to somehow keep out Christoph Baumgartner’s header will live just as long in the memory of all who saw it.

It was also a crucial save, coming at the very end of a thrilling round of 16 tie and preventing Austria from equalising in the last minute, something their manager Ralf Rangnick felt they fully deserved.

“We didn’t have the luck we needed and I think if the game had gone to extra time we would have won,” Rangnick said.

“We had time to equalise, but it’s difficult when they have Gordon Banks in goal!”

Banks was also the name on the lips of all the pundits as they tried to describe Gunok’s save as his teammates sprinted to congratulate him when the final whistle blew seconds later.

“That’s Gordon Banks. Unbelievable. What a moment. The keeper puts the ball around the post, it’s a brilliant save,” former England defender Matthew Upson said on Radio Five Live.

“It’s first class! It’s like a Gordon Banks replica,” Lee Dixon told ITV.

“Gunok’s save is one of the greatest saves in Euro history,” said Chris Sutton.

There have been several dramatic late goals at this Euro – think Jude Bellingham’s brilliant strike for England against Slovakia on Sunday – but this was a save that could match any of them, at the same point in the game.

Turkey held on to a 2-1 lead despite relentless late pressure when, in the 94th minute, Austria launched a final attack.

With the Turkish defence exhausted, Baumgartner burst into space at the far post and headed downfield, the ball skidding on the wet turf and appearing to head for the far corner… until Gunok found a way across his goal to keep it out.

“It’s amazing how he managed to save him,” added Sutton, who seemed almost speechless.

“I’ve never seen a better game,” Upson said. “Drama, commitment. Wow, what a game. Baumgartner thought it was in the back of the net. He does everything right.”

“On this greasy surface he does very well. It was Gordon Banks, identical. The Turkish fans are going wild.”

Turkey defender Merih Demiral, who scored twice – including the fastest goal in a European Championship knockout stage – was named man of the match but later paid tribute to Gunok.

“Mert did a great job, we had a great discussion after the final whistle and I couldn’t believe my eyes – it’s maybe one of the best saves I’ve seen with my own eyes,” Demiral said.

“He deserves it, Mert is the oldest player in the team and he has always guided us and shown us the way forward, so I am very happy he made this save.”

Turkish President Vincenzo Montella was one of the few who did not use superlatives when discussing Gunok’s arrival, but he did not downplay its importance to his country’s cause.

“I don’t know, because there were so many spectacular saves,” Montella said when asked about where Gunok’s save ranks on the all-time list.

“I’m happy for him, happy for the team, happy for the country and happy for the group we’ve created here and what we’ve produced there today.

“Well done to Mert, that’s his job, to make saves and we are very happy that he made the winning save in the last minute.”

The reward for Turkey and its army of devoted fans is a quarter-final against the Netherlands in Berlin on Saturday, and Montella feels anything is possible with their support.

“We have a huge audience, there is passion and love,” he explained.

“It’s very visceral for me in Turkey, so I’m very happy to have passed on to our Turks here in Germany a little bit of pride, and across the world.

“We constantly feel this responsibility, this love and this support, but you can only achieve these dreams if you work hard from day one. We will celebrate that tonight, but then we will get to work.”

Here’s a selection of the tweets and messages we received from BBC Sport readers in the moments after the shutdown…

Andy: You can watch football for as long as you want and I don’t think you’ll see a better save than that. Easily among the best saves of all time. Unbelievable.

André: Mert Gunok with the perfect tribute to Peter Schmeichel upon his death.

JMG: That was an absolutely mind-blowing save. Mind-blowing doesn’t even do it justice. To pull that off in the 95th minute, my God.

Howard: This save was arguably better than Gordon Banks’s save against Pele in 1970… because it was a winning cause.

Richard: This might be the best save I’ve ever seen. Amazing from Mert.

Steve: The photo of this Gunok save doesn’t do it justice! Absolutely awesome. It will probably end up on most lists of the best saves of all time in the future!

Jon: I honestly think Gunok’s save is the best I’ve ever seen. Amazing!