By Raf Casert, The Associated Press

BASEL, Switzerland - Philipp Lahm ended Turkey’s storybook run in the European Championship on Wednesday by scoring a 90th-minute goal to give Germany a 3-2 semifinal victory and keep it on target for a record fourth title.

(Germany’s Bastian Schweinsteiger reacts after scoring his teams first goal during the Euro 2008 European Soccer Championships semifinal match between Germany and Turkey at the St. Jakob-Park stadium in Basel, Switzerland, Wednesday, June 25, 2008. (AP Photo/Keystone/Georgios Kefalas)

With two goals in the final five minutes, the match could have gone either way, but after three thrilling comeback victories in a row for Turkey, it was Germany’s day.

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

But Lahm then cut in from left, set up a one-two, collected the ball and shot it past Rustu Recber to unleash the joy of about 20,000 German fans at St. Jakob Park.

Ugur Boral gave Turkey the lead in the 22nd, but Bastian Schweinsteiger equalized in the 26th minute.

Miroslav Klose seemed to have closed out the match for Germany in the 79th minute. Lahm sent a long cross into the penalty area, where Klose cut in front of Mehmet Topal and a hopelessly out of position Recber to head the ball into the empty net.

The Germans, however, were not counting on the resilience of a Turkish team which never gives up. But this time, even Senturk’s second late goal in as many matches was not enough.

After taking an early lead through the inspirational Boral, Schweinsteiger scored his second goal of the tournament four minutes later.

Germany will play the winner of Thursday’s second semifinal match between Spain and Russia in Vienna on Sunday.

Turkey dominated most of the match despite four suspensions and five injuries, proving its extraordinary comeback victories were no fluke. With a fully fit team, Germany struggled throughout as captain Michael Ballack could not inspire the forward line.

Turkey was inspirational, though.

Taking a cross from the right, Kazim Kazim slid in front of defender Per Mertesacker and sent a looping shot past Lehmann onto the bar. Boral was waiting for the rebound and rifled it through the goalkeeper’s legs.

Grapple and grasp as Lehmann might, the ball bounced over the line and yet another upset win seemed in the making.

The Turks have proved the comeback kids throughout the tournament but holding an early lead proved impossible.

Germany instead showed off its legendary efficiency by scoring on its first chance of the match four minutes later. Lukas Podolski broke away on the left and sent a perfect low cross to Bayern teammate Schweinsteiger in the centre.

With an almost nonchalant flick of the outside right foot, he beat Topal to the ball and curled it past Recber for his second goal of the tournament.

Lineups:

Germany: Jens Lehmann, Arne Friedrich, Per Mertesacker, Christoph Metzelder, Philipp Lahm, Simon Rolfes (Torsten Frings, 46), Bastian Schweinsteiger, Michael Ballack, Thomas Hitzlsperger, Lukas Podolski, Miroslav Klose (Marcell Jansen, 90).

Turkey: Rustu Recber, Gokhan Zan, Hakan Balta, Mehmet Topal, Mehmet Aurelio, Ugur Boral (Gokdeniz Karadeniz, 84), Sabri Sarioglu, Ayhan Akman (Mevlut Erdinic, 81), Kazim Kazim (Tumer Metin, 90), Hamit Altintop, Semih Senturk.