Hasan Sas - fires Turkey into the lead (Allsport)

By Martyn Ziegler, PA Chief Sports Reporter, Seoul

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Turkey's die-hard fans have been waiting for this moment for 48 years so it was something of a shame that history was made in such an unconvincing manner.

China are by far the weakest country in the World Cup - they would probably struggle against the likes of Peterborough, for example - and if was not for the hugely-talented Hasan Sas Turkey might well have struggled.

That did not prevent joyous celebrations at the final whistle as, thanks to Brazil's 5-2 win against Costa Rica, Turkey were through to the second round of the World Cup for the first time.

It is 48 years since Turkey even appeared in the finals, and their Bayern Munich midfielder Yildiray Basturk explained the emotions at the end, said: "This is the greatest day in the history of Turkish football. We are very, very happy that for the first time we are in the second round."

The chances of Hasan Sas still being at Galatasaray next season recede with every match, and any big European clubs watching will have once again been impressed as he ran the show.

He scored the first and then created goals for clubmate Bulent and Umit, the Mohican-haired AC Milan midfielder.

Turkey coach Senol Gunes was in rapture afterwards. "After 48 years, we promised the Turkish nation we would first get to the World Cup and then get to the second round. Today we kept our promise.

"In the first games there were problems created by the big pressure on the players, but now we believe things are going to get better."

Gunes pronounced himself pleased with the display against China, though there was some disharmony when he substituted Basturk with 20 minutes left.

"I was not very happy," said Basturk, "but I will talk to the coach about it."

The coach is probably more preoccupied with the form of several key players, including Basturk but more notably striker Hakan Sukur, who has had a dismal tournament so far.

There is also a problem with outbreaks of indiscipline that has seen two players sent off in the first match against Brazil and two more - Emre Asik and Emre Belozoglu - suspended for the next game after picking up a second booking.

China coach Bora Milutinovic had said before the game that his side would settle merely for scoring a goal, so with expectations set at such a low level it was no surprise when Turkey took the lead after six minutes.

Hasan Sas seized on a mistake by Li Weifeng and hammered a rising shot past Jiang Jin into the net despite the Chinese keeper getting a hand to the ball.

Three minutes later and it was 2-0, Hasan Sas again involved with a penetrating cross from the left that Bulent met with a looping header that dropped over Jiang Jin.

Yang Chen came within inches of scoring the goal that all China has been craving.

The striker struck a lovely half-volley which crashed back off the post after strike-partner Haidong Hao's accurate centre.

Milutinovic said: "This was our best game in the group and I am so unhappy for the people of China that we didn't get a goal.

"When you haven't experienced big competitions before then you pay the price but they are a young team and you can be sure they have a bright future."

After substitute Shao Jiayi had been sent off for catching Emre Belozoglu with his studs from behind, Umit finally calmed Turkish nerves with a sweetly-struck volley in-off the post from Hasan Sas' deep cross.

Yang Chen, the Eintracht Frankfurt striker and the only member of China's starting line-up playing club football abroad, was proud of the side's debut in the World Cup.

He said: "This was our first chance to be here and I think we can learn from countries such as Korea and Japan and perform better in the future."