/world sport
BIELEFELD, Germany (AP) -- Hakan Kadir Balta scored midway through the second half to give Turkey a 1-0 friendly win over Slovakia in Germany -- an encouraging start to their preparations for the Euro 2008 finals.
Balta (left) is congratulated by teammates after scoring Turkey's winning goal against Slovakia.
Balta sent a shot past Slovakian keeper Stefan Senecky and into the bottom corner in the 64th minute, after a cross from Colin Kazim-Richards had bounced off a defender into his path.
The match was the first of three games in a nine-day period for Turkey, who open their European Championship schedule against Portugal on June 7 in Basel, Switzerland.
Turkey have other friendlies scheduled against Uruguay on May 25 in Bochum, and Finland four days later in Duisburg before heading off.
Slovakia's best chance came in the 80th minute when Igor Zofcak's header forced Turkish goalie Rustu Recber into a fine save.
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