Arda Guler was among the many targets as Turkey seized the initiative in Group F with a pulsating win over European Championship debutants Georgia in Dortmund.
The Actual Madrid teen confirmed his huge potential with a shocking strike halfway by the second half to quell the courageous problem of a Georgia aspect who arguably deserved extra for an enterprising efficiency.
And Kerem Akturkoglu netted a decisive third deep into harm time, working from inside his personal half to faucet into an empty internet with Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili up for a nook.
ABSOLUTE SCENES! 🇹🇷#BBCEuros #Euro2024 #TURGEO pic.twitter.com/5LEA9mUo1K
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 18, 2024
Seconds earlier, Georgia struck a publish by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s free-kick with a heroic block from Samet Akaydin denying Zuriko Davitashvili’s follow-up.
It was a outstanding finish to an impressive sport performed in a bear-pit ambiance.
Turkey opened the scoring with one other spectacular purpose, Mert Mulder volleying in from the sting of the field after 25 minutes earlier than Georgia equalised seven minutes later by Georges Mikautadze.
Georgia had a number of different probabilities – Giorgi Kochorashvili coming inside inches of an injury-time leveller earlier than the even later drama unfolded.
The primary half was performed at a wide ranging tempo with either side maybe sensing a chance to take an enormous stride in direction of qualification with a win.
It was Turkey who settled first amid the noise and the rain with Kaan Ayhan and Abdulkerim Bardakci each seeing headers from corners narrowly miss the goal.
Vincenzo Montella’s males got here even nearer after 9 minutes with Ayhan driving in a shot which hit the within of Mamardashvili’s right-hand publish and bounced to security.
Mulder blasts Turkey in entrance
Mert Gunok saved properly to maintain out a deflected Anzor Mekvabishvili effort on the different finish earlier than Turkey went in entrance in thrilling style.
Ferdi Kadioglu’s cross was nodded clear to the sting of the world the place Mulder was ready to crash a spectacular volley into the highest right-hand nook.
Mert Muldur won’t hit a greater volley in his total profession! 🤩
A purpose of the event contender?!#BBCEuros #Euro2024 #TURGEO pic.twitter.com/5bTegbuaXC
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 18, 2024
The roof virtually got here off Dortmund’s Sign Iduna Park and the amount elevated a minute later when Guler escaped down the best and his cross was nudged on by Orkun Kokcu for Kenan Yildiz to fireside house on the far publish.
The celebrations had been reduce brief this time, nonetheless, with Yildiz dominated to be fractionally offside.
Georgia had been gasping for air and requiring a spell of possession to take the sting out of the sport.
Georgian pleasure in Dortmund
Their star man Kvaratskhelia had been quiet as much as that time however he was concerned in a sluggish and affected person build-up that led to the equaliser. Ultimately the ball was labored to Kochorashvili, who skipped previous his marker with a beautiful step-over earlier than crossing to Mikautadze and he sidefooted previous Gunok at his close to publish.
“What a second for the nation of Georgia!”
The Euros debutants are stage towards Turkey!#BBCEuros #Euro2024 #TURGEO pic.twitter.com/qoXMNFzg4Z
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 18, 2024
Georgian pleasure was unbridled and they need to have added a second earlier than half-time, Mikautadze volleying inches broad following good work from the spectacular Otar Kakabadze.
The second half began in an analogous vein with Mikautadze denied by a last-ditch sort out by Bardakci.
Step by step, nonetheless, Turkey started to reassert their authority with captain Hakan Calhanoglu beginning to pull the strings in midfield.
The Inter midfielder compelled an unconventional save from Mamardashvili after 56 minutes – the goalkeeper repelling his highly effective free-kick with a one-handed punch.
Guler’s gobsmacker
Calhanoglu has been the darling of Turkish soccer for a few years however Guler is his inheritor obvious. And it was the 19-year-old who restored his aspect’s lead after 65 minutes with a shocking purpose. Turkey gained the ball again in midfield and Guler took it on earlier than lashing a beautiful left-footed shot into the highest left-hand nook.
WOW! WOW! WOW!
What a purpose for the “Turkish Messi” 🇹🇷#BBCEuros #Euro2024 #TURGEO pic.twitter.com/0QbOMynXNr
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 18, 2024
Turkey might have put the sport to mattress a minute later however Fadioglu opted to drag the ball again for Akaydin relatively than shoot and the prospect was misplaced.
They virtually paid the value seconds later when Kochorashvili skipped by the Turkey defence earlier than clipping a shot on to the bar.
Substitute Yusuf Yazici virtually scored however his header was palmed clear by Mamardashvili earlier than Kochorashvili flashed a close-range shot narrowly broad. Kvaratskhelia and Davitashvili got here even nearer earlier than Akturkoglu had the ultimate say.
