Türkiye builds suspense with spirited Euro 2024 debutants Georgia

Turkey made a thrilling start to their Euro 2024 campaign on Tuesday with a 3-1 victory over Georgia that delighted a passionate army of fans in soggy Dortmund. Real Madrid midfielder Arda Guler scored a brilliant goal in the 65th minute at a Westfalenstadion dominated by tens of thousands of Turkish fans, before Kerem Akturkoglu added a third in stoppage time as Georgia tried to equalize late on. Guler, 19, had a difficult time with injuries in his first season in Madrid, but replaced Turkey in a hard-fought match against Georgia, who did not look out of place in their first match at a major international tournament.

Georgia were dangerous after Georges Mikautadze equalized Mert Muldur’s opening goal for Turkey in the 25th minute, just after the half-hour mark, and saw a second equalizer denied by the post and a series of saves and blocks.

But Akturkoglu assured that Turkey would top the group ahead of Portugal’s opening game with the Czech Republic on Tuesday.

Turkey took advantage of their fervent support and attacked Georgia from the start, pressing their inexperienced opponents high up the pitch as a huge roar spread through the stands.

Kaan Ayhan and Abdulkerim Bardakci went close with headers from corners in the first 10 minutes before Ayhan struck a low shot inside the post.

And in a breathtaking first period, Anzor Mekvabishvili almost gave Georgia a shock lead in the 11th minute when his wildly deflected shot was well saved by Mert Gunok.

But Muldur sparked wild celebrations in the stands in the 25th minute with a stunning shot after Ferdi Kadioglu’s cross was deflected to him on the edge of the box.

The roars of Muldur’s goal had barely died down when Kenan Yildiz scored what he considered to be Turkey’s second goal, only for the goal to be disallowed because the Juventus striker’s toes were offside before he scored.

And Mikautadze surprised what was effectively the home crowd in the 32nd minute when he connected with Giorgi Kochorashvili’s low cross after some brilliant play down the right.

The small but noisy Georgian contingent had their heads in their hands shortly afterwards as Mikautadze looked certain to put his team in front, but he capitalized on a great opportunity.

Turkey went ahead again after the break, but Georgia held their ground and Mikautadze was back in the thick of things in the 52nd minute when Bardakci blocked his shot from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s shot from the left.

Kvaratskhelia, who was below average throughout, opened a good chance in the 62nd minute and, moments later, Guler took aim from distance and shot without stopping past the desperate Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Georgia looked for another equalizer and came desperately close five minutes after Guler’s effort when Kochorashvili overcame some poor clearances, only to see his shot hit the post.

But Kochorashvili and Zuriko Davitashvili were unfortunate not to equalize in stoppage time, with Mamardashvili stepping in for a last-gasp shot and Akturkoglu scoring on the counter-attack to seal a thrilling victory.

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