Alpay gets his marching orders (BenRadford/Allsport)

Humberto Coelho's team were fancied to go all the way after storming into the last eight with a 100 per cent record from England's group.

And the Turks could not stop the bandwagon gathering pace, especially after the sending-off of defender Alpay Ozalan, and the stylish Portuguese head for Brussels and a semi-final against France or Spain on Wednesday.

Luis Figo revelled in the extra space created by Alpay's dismissal, tormenting Turkey down either flank, and it was Barcelona's dazzling wing-man who teed-up both goals for Nuno Gomes.

The first was a flying header by the Benfica striker in the 44th minute. The second was a simple tap-in at the back-post after Figo had raced down the right.

The two countries met in the group stages of Euro 96 when Fernando Couto scored the only goal of the game in Nottingham.

Ten survivors, six Portuguese and four Turks, started in the Amsterdam ArenA but Portugal came out on top again to reach their first semi-final since the 1984 European Championships.

The tie exploded into life in the 29th minute when Alpay lost his head in a tangle with opposing central defender Couto.

Alpay had gone forward for a set-piece and challenged with Couto in the air. The pair landed in a heap and the Fenerbahce man threw a punch at Couto as he got to his feet.

Dutch ref Dick Jol spotted the incident and flashed his red card. He had booked Joao Pinto a minute earlier and went on to add the names of Okan Buruk, Couto, Nuno Gomes and Costinha in a frantic few minutes before half-time.

If the red card was a blow to Turkey in their first European Championships quarter-final, then Nuno Gomes' goal in the 44th minute was shattering.

Figo whipped a right-wing cross into the danger zone where Nuno Gomes nipped ahead of Fatih Akyel, moved into the centre from full-back in Alpay's absence, to head home his second goal of Euro 2000.

Joao Pinto almost extended the lead, volleying wide Manuel Rui Costa's cross after some magical footwork from the Fiorentina midfielder.

But it was Turkey who returned to the dressing room cursing a golden chance which slipped through their grasp.

Couto felled Arif as he darted into the penalty area, with the clock ticking into the 51st minute of the first half, and Dutch referee Dick Jol pointed to the spot.

Arif took the kick himself, driving it hard and low to Vitor Baia's right but the Portugal captain was down in a flash to beat the ball away.

Costinha should have fired Portugal into the lead 25 minutes before Nuno Gomes broke the deadlock but his close-range shot, after a Figo corner, was well-saved by Rustu Recber.

Turkey's best efforts had come from Hakan Suker, whose looping header dropped just over, and Arif's early volley, which was also off-target.

Tayfur Havutchu shot over after Baia dropped a corner but Portugal refused to sit back on their lead against 10 men. They continued to drive forward and, 11 minutes into the second half, Figo carved out a second goal.

He skipped down the right, leaving Hakan Unsal for dead, looked up and rolled a pass along the six-yard box for Nuno Gomes to tap in his second.

Figo, Rui Costa and Joao Pinto drove wide as the search for a third goal started. Nuno Gomes was denied by Rustu and Jorge Costa somehow failed to score his first goal for his country when he missed an open net.

Turkey threatened to be over-run but managed to steady themselves and managed a brief rally before the final whistle signalled their exit from the competition.