By CIARÁN FAHEYAP Sports Editor

BERLIN (AP) — The Netherlands came from behind to beat Turkey 2-1 on Saturday and book its place in the semifinals of the European Championship.

A 76th-minute own goal from Mert Muldur, just six minutes after Stefan De Vrij had cancelled out Samet Akaydin's first-half header for Turkey, was enough for the Dutch in the last of the quarter-finals.

The Netherlands will face England in the second semi-final on Wednesday in Dortmund. Spain will face France in the first on Tuesday.

Turkey were without defender Merih Demiral, who was suspended for two matches UEFA has condemned the Turkish national team for a nationalist gesture after scoring in the Turkish national team's 2-1 win over Austria on Tuesday. The gesture is used by Turkish nationalists and is associated with an ultra-nationalist group.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was at the match after changing his plans due to the diplomatic row with Germany over Demiral's gesture.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said Demiral had used his celebration “as a platform for racism” and Federal Minister Cem Özdemir, a German politician of Turkish origin, said the gesture “represents terrorism and fascism.”

Many Turkish fans makes the gesture on the way to the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, and again during the Turkish national anthem before the match.

The Dutch started the game better, but the Turkish defenders managed to limit the impact of Cody Gapko, Xavi Simons and Memphis Depay. Turkey lined up with five at the back without the ball, as they had done in the win against Austria, and gradually improved.

Akaydin rewarded a period of Turkish pressure by scoring in the 35th minute. Arda Guler delivered a very soft cross to the defender who pushed it off the crossbar.

The goal sparked a wave of celebrations among Turkish coaches and fans. Güler was swarmed with hugs in the training area, while fans at the west end of the stadium lit flares. Most remained standing after the goal.

Turkish fans far outnumbered their orange-clad counterparts in a city that is home to a large community of people of Turkish descent. Most are descendants of Turkish “guest workers” who arrived in what was West Germany to help rebuild the post-war economy. Germany is home to some 3 million Turks or people of Turkish descent, making them the country’s largest ethnic minority, and the team has enjoyed enthusiastic support at Euro 2024.

The Dutch tried to equalise before the break, to the sound of whistles.

Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman, who won Euro 1988 as a player with the Netherlands, responded at half-time by bringing on big striker Wout Weghorst in place of Steven Bergwijn.

Weghorst's presence gave the Dutch wingers a target, leading to a period of intense pressure.

Guler hit the post from a free-kick but it was an isolated effort as the Dutch pressure continued.

It finally paid off in the 70th minute when De Vrij was free to head home a Depay cross.

Suddenly the Dutch fans were loud again and they cheered again six minutes later when Gapko forced Muldur into an own goal by getting in front of the defender from a low cross from Denzel Dumfries.

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