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Türkiye overwhelmed North Macedonia 4-0 in a dominant home performance at Ulker Stadium on Sunday, with goals spread across both halves as the hosts controlled proceedings from the opening minute.
Orkun Kokcu broke the deadlock inside two minutes, converting a cross from Oguz Aydin with a composed left-footed finish from the centre of the box. Can Uzun had already rattled the crossbar seconds into the match, signalling the intent that would define the evening.
Türkiye doubled their advantage in the 16th minute when Can Uzun drove a right-footed effort from outside the box into the bottom left corner, assisted by Eren Elmali following a swift counter-attack. North Macedonia rarely threatened in the opening half, with Ezgjan Alioski's effort in the 44th minute the visitors' clearest opportunity, comfortably held by goalkeeper Altay Bayindir.
North Macedonia made a sweeping seven changes at the interval, a clear sign of their technical staff's frustration, but the tactical reshuffle did little to alter the flow of the contest.
Türkiye extended their lead eight minutes into the second half when Deniz Gül headed home from the centre of the box, converting a corner delivery assisted by Can Uzun, to make it 3-0. Shortly after the hour mark, head coach Stefan Kuntz introduced several prominent names from the bench simultaneously, bringing on Arda Güler, Baris Alper Yilmaz, and Merih Demiral, among others, in a mass substitution.
The changes added further creativity, and Baris Alper Yilmaz completed the scoring in the 70th minute, finishing from close range after being set up by Irfan Can Kahveci.
Goalkeeper Davor Taleski, introduced as a substitute for North Macedonia in the 66th minute, was called into action several times in the closing stages, saving efforts from Samet Akaydin and Irfan Can Kahveci as Türkiye continued to press. The sole yellow card of the evening went to North Macedonia's Imran Fetai in the 42nd minute for a foul on Yunus Akgün.
The match, refereed by Spain's José Luis Munuera Montero, was played in front of a home crowd at Ulker Stadium in Istanbul, kicking off at 8:30 p.m. local time.
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