Turkey strike late in Almaty to keep hopes alive

• Arda Turan scores 83rd-minute clincher in Almaty
• Turkey claim second victory in Group A
• Rock-bottom Kazakhstan still without a win (D1 L5)
• Visitors five points adrift of leaders having played a game more
• Next up: Czech Republic v Kazakhstan, Turkey v Latvia (3 September)

Arda Turan struck the winner seven minutes from time to give Turkey a potentially crucial UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying Group A success in Kazakhstan.

An excellent display by home goalkeeper Stas Pokatilov looked to have denied the visiting side before the Turkey No10 pounced on Burak Yılmaz's knockdown to keep Fatih Terim's men in contention.

The bottom-placed hosts had taken just one point from five games in the section prior to kick-off, but started the contest on the front foot. However, Ulan Konysbayev failed to hit the target with a fifth-minute effort.

Mid-table Turkey, who had claimed their sole victory in the section against Kazakhstan in November, responded via Hakan Çalhanoğlu. Home custodian Pokatilov did well to parry the attempt after the No5 pounced on a loose ball. Nine minutes later, Pokatilov dived low to his left to rebuff Arda Turan as Turkey began to dominate.

Yet it was a rare attack from Yuri Krasnozhan's team that almost produced the opener, Dmitri Shomko having a 35th-minute shot repelled by Turkey keeper Volkan Babacan. Ten minutes later, Kazakhstan's No1 was called on again to thwart Ozan Tufan and ensure the first half ended goalless.

The visitors had inflicted Kazakhstan's heaviest home defeat the last time they met in Almaty, but a repeat of that result seemed improbable. Efforts from Bauyrzhan Islamkhan and Konysbayev at the start of the second period demonstrated their home nation's improvement.

Even so, Turkey continued pushing and eventually began to create openings. Substitute Umut Bulut squandered a glorious one with 18 minutes remaining, missing the target with a close-range finish. Moments later, Burak struck the woodwork before failing to control the rebound. But Turkey would not be denied as captain Arda found the top corner to keep their qualification hopes alive.