Turkey 0 - 3 Croatia: Hiddink feels the heat as Croatia feast on Turkey

Croatia romped to a comfortable 3-0 victory away to Turkey in the first leg of their Euro 2012 play-off with goals from Ivica Olic, Mario Mandzukic and Vedran Corluka taking them to the brink of the finals.

Boos rang around the stadium at the final whistle and the result will pile more pressure on Turkey coach Guus Hiddink who was already under fire after a patchy campaign in the qualifiers in which they finished second in Group A.

Olic put the visitors ahead in the second minute with a simple tap-in after goalkeeper Volkan Demirel failed to cut out a low cross from Corluka.

Despite a long period of Turkey possession, Croatia doubled their lead in the 32nd minute when Mandzukic headed in a cross from Darijo Srna.

Turkey’s misery was complete in the second half as Corluka made it 3-0 in the 51st minute, escaping his marker and heading in from close range from a free-kick whipped in by Srna.

The return leg will be in Zagreb on 15 November although few of the Turkish fans will retain much hope that their team can turn the tie around. Their were chants for Hiddink’s resignation at the end while keeper Volkan was also jeered.

Turkey: Demirel, Gonul (Tore 46), Kacar, Korkmaz, Balta, Altintop, Sarioglu, Inan (Topal 69), Belozoglu, Turan, Yilmaz (Bulut 81).

Croatia: Pletikosa, Corluka,

Schildenfeld, Simunic, Vida, Srna,

Dujmovic, Rakitic (Pranjic 83), Modric, Olic (Jelavic 85), Mandzukic (22-Eduardo 90).

Referee: Felix Brych (Germany)