Philipp Lahm ended Turkey's storybook run in the tournament yesterday with a late goal in a 3-2 semifinal victory that kept Germany on target for a record fourth title.

A stunning conclusion that many people around the world did not see because the international TV feed went out due to a storm had Lahm eliminating the surprising Turks off a give-and-go with Thomas Hitzlsperger in the 90th minute. Lahm cut in from the left, set up a passing one-two, collected the ball and shot it past Rustu Recber to the delight of some 20,000 German fans at St. Jakob Park.

"It unleashed all that joy. It was my most important goal," Lahm said.

First, Semih Senturk kept Turkey in the game with an 86th-minute equalizer, beating Jens Lehmann at the near post.

Ugur Boral gave Turkey the lead in the 22nd, but Bastian Schweinsteiger equalized in the 26th. Miroslav Klose then scored in the 79th off a feed from Lahm to put the Germans ahead, setting up the thrilling finish.

"Totally crazy feeling," Germany coach Joachim Loew said. "It was unbelievable. It was a crazy, incredible drama with all these goals in the final minutes." *