The 35-year-old blocked a 47-minute header by Vedran Corlucka before tightly saving Kranjcar's right-footed shot 10 minutes later.

Fatih Terim's side also impressed in counterattacks against the highly rated Croats.

After an early nice work outside the area, a pass from Nihat Kahveci picked up unnoticed right back Hamit Altintop, whose long shot in the fifth minute just went wide.

Seven minutes later, Nihat Kahveci won a free kick in a dangerous spot on the edge of the box after hammered by Croatia captain Niko Kovac. Hamit Altintop's effort on goal, however, was perfectly blocked by Kovac, who bravely flied out of the wall to take the shot full on his rib cage.

The high flying Turks, however, will head into the round of last four with a long list of injuries and two regular starters suspended. Adding to the lose of keeper Volkan, Turkey left winger Arda Turan, who tangled down Simunic in the 49 minute, will miss the semifinals after receiving his second yellow card in the tournament.

Ivan Rakitic missed Croatia's best opportunity of the regular time on 70 minutes when the 20-year-old Schalke 04 left winger's right-footed shot, after a cracking, flowing one-two play with Ivica Olic, went high wide with a suspected push by a Turkey defender from the back.

Petric later won a 25-meter free kick in the 82nd minute when Gokhan Zan accidently kicked the striker's ankle while cleaning up, and Darijo Srna's swerving shot was arrowing towards the top corner only for Turkey goalie Rustu to dive and flick it around the post.

Croatia earlier missed another chance before the interval. On 19 minutes, Luka Modric scampered through the defence and played a gorgeous assist across goal, but the sliding-in Ivica Olic just poked it on to the bar and Niko Kranjcar headed the rebound over the target and wide to the right.

Modric pounded the turf in frustration, while Croatia coach Slaven Bilic, who started to skip down the touchline in joy, pulled up short in disappointment.

(Xinhua News Agency June 21, 2008)