Belgium had made virtually all the running and were denied what looked like a valid goal from Emile Mpenza because of a dubious offside decision against Luc Nilis.

But worse was to follow for the home side when in a minute into stoppage time at the end of the half, Hakan chased what looked like a lost cause and nodded the bouncing ball past Belgian goalkeeper Filip de Wilde.

Belgium began in determined fashion, and Mpenza shot narrowly wide from two efforts inside the opening minutes.

Aston Villa new boy Luc Nilis started his first match in the tournament because of injury to Branko Strupar, and the striker went close in the fifth minute.

Nilis showed a turn of pace which belied his 33 years as he outstripped the Turkish defence down the right before unleashing a drive which was saved by Rustu Recber at his near post.

Nilis popped up in another dangerous position, this time on the left, only to be easily dispossessed by Fatih Akyel.

Fatih came to Turkey's aid again when he cut out Mpenza's cross following a strong run by the Belgian striker.

Belgium continued to pepper the Turkish goal, and Bart Goor saw a right-foot effort deflected just wide of the far post.

The Turkish backline continued to creak and groan under Belgium's unrelenting attacks and a perfectly-executed bicycle kick by Marc Wilmots rebounded off both Mpenza and Fatih.

The Turks finally mustered a counter-attack which culminated in Eric Deflandre blocking Tugay Kerimoglu's tame shot.

Mpenza and the rest of Belgium thought he had opened the scoring in the 24th minute when he tucked home a rebound only for the effort to be disallowed for a dubious offside decision.

Nilis was harshly adjudged to have been offside when he received Wilmots' slide-rule pass in the build-up to the strike even though he appeared to have been level with the final defender.

For all Belgium's pressure, they nearly went behind three minutes later when Hakan Sukur sprang their offside trap only for de Wilde to rush out and make a fine blocking save.

Nilis continued to threaten Turkey's goal and he drilled one 25-yard effort inches wide of Rustu's right-hand post.

Turkey were restricted to the odd counter-attack and Okan Buruk dreadfully mis-hit an effort after he had been set up in the box by Hakan.

Turkey switched to plan B in an attempt to peg back the Belgians and Tayfur Havutcu came on for Tugay after 37 minutes.

A minute later Arif Erdem nearly gave Turkey the lead against the run of play when he danced through the Belgian defence only for de Wilde to deny him with his right foot.

Danish referee Kim Milton Nielsen became the first casualty of the frenetic pace of the match on this balmy evening when he pulled his groin and had to be replaced by Austrian official Gunter Benko.

Just when it looked the game would be goalless at half-time, the Turks stunned Belgium by taking the lead in stoppage time.

Hakan chased an up-and-under into the Belgian box and outjumped de Wilde to head home the first goal of the game.