Vincenzo Montella celebrated his birthday in model, as Turkey battled to a dramatic 3-1 win over Kvicha Kvaratskhelia’s Georgia, together with an Arda Guler stunner.
It was a sport filled with Serie A curiosity, beginning with Turkey’s Italian coach Montella, Inter midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu and Juventus ahead Kenan Yildiz on one aspect, Napoli winger Kvicha Kvaratskhelia on the opposite.
Montella’s males poured ahead from the beginning and ex-Sassuolo defender Kaan Ayhan noticed his first-time daisy-cutter from outdoors the field thump the bottom of the upright on 10 minutes, whereas Anzor Mekvabishvili compelled Mert Gunok right into a one-handed save.
Turkey’s domination lastly paid off with a sensational volley from former Sassuolo defender Mert Muldur on the sting of the penalty space.
Juventus teenage sensation Kenan Yildiz had the ball within the internet moments later, however his toes have been offside on the flick-on.
As an alternative, Georgia equalised in opposition to the run of play with Georges Mikautadze tapping within the Giorgi Kocharashvili pull-back. It was an historic objective, the primary for this nation in a serious UEFA match.
There was very practically one other a couple of minutes later, Calhanoglu again defending and doing sufficient to place Mikautadze off on the acrobatic volley from 12 yards, because the tide of the sport modified fully.
A trademark Hakan Calhanoglu free kick was parried, however Actual Madrid teenager Arda Guler scored a fairytale left-foot roller into the far prime nook from 26 metres, confirming Montella was proper to make use of him on this superior function.
WOW! WOW! WOW!
What a objective for the “Turkish Messi” 🇹🇷#BBCEuros #Euro2024 #TURGEO pic.twitter.com/0QbOMynXNr
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 18, 2024
It nonetheless wasn’t over, as Kochorashvili squirmed by means of three defenders solely to smash a shot in opposition to the crossbar.
Roma defender Zeki Celik got here off the bench and instantly crossed for a Yusuf Yazici header effectively saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Kvaratskhelia practically arrange an equaliser in stoppages, pulling again from the left by-line, however two Georgia gamers went for it and collided with one another.
That was solely the beginning of the stoppage-time bedlam, as Kvaratskhelia’s free kick went previous everybody and thumped the upright, then Samet Akaydin flung himself in the way in which of the Davitashvili follow-up.
On the ensuing nook, Kerem Akturkoglu broke on the counter with the goalkeeper up the opposite finish and rolled into an empty internet for 3-1.
Turkey 3-1 Georgia
Muldur 25 (T), Mikautadze 32 (G), Arda Guler 65 (T), Kerem Akturkoglu 97 (T)
1
14
20
18
85′ 4
8
79′ 10
90′ 22
79′ 6
21
19
85′ 25
4
3
2
5
85′ 20
89′ 21
74′ 10
74′ 6
22
7
25
12
5
23
9
13
16
26
24
3
79′ 11
79′ 2
85′ 7
85′ 15
90′ 17
23
16
11
24
19
12
13
26
15
14
74′ 9
74′ 8
85′ 18
89′
