DORTMUND, Germany
Turkey got their Euro 2024 campaign off to a thrilling start on Tuesday with a 3-1 win over Georgia that brought delight to a passionate army of fans in soaking wet Dortmund.
Real Madrid midfielder Arda
Guler crashed in a brilliant goal in the 65th minute at a Westfalenstadion
dominated by tens of thousands of Turkey supporters before Kerem Akturkoglu
rolled home the third deep in stoppage time as Georgia pushed for a late leveller.
Guler, 19, had a difficult
time with injuries in his first season in Madrid but stepped up for Turkey in a
fiercely-contested match with Georgia, who did not look out of place in their
first-ever match at a major international tournament.
"I'm really happy with
the win, I hope I can score more goal to help my team," said Guler.
"I don't care about
personal achievements, I'm only concerned about helping the team win and that
we go as far as possible."
Georgia were dangerous after
Georges Mikautadze levelled Mert Muldur's 25th-minute opener for Turkey just
after the half-hour mark, and were denied a second equaliser by the woodwork
and a series of saves and blocks.
But Akturkoglu made sure
Turkey would top the group ahead of Portugal's opening match with the Czech
Republic later on Tuesday.
"It's a bit early to talk
about what was missing, but I will say a bit of talent, a bit of
experience," said Georgia coach Willy Sagnol.
"I'm sure that in the
future, this kind of game in the next months and the next years I'm sure
Georgia won't lose, because Georgia will learn... I have absolutely nothing bad
to say about them."
Turkey took the cue from their
fervent support and went at Georgia from the off, pressuring their
inexperienced opposition high up the pitch as a huge din came rolling down the
stands.
Kaan Ayhan and Abdulkerim
Bardakci both went close with headers from corners inside the first 10 minutes
before Ayhan crashed a low drive off the inside of the post.
And in a breathless opening
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 volley after
Ferdi Kadioglu's cross was cleared to him on the edge of the area.
The roars from Muldur's goal
had barely subsided when Kenan Yildiz poked home what he thought was Turkey's
second, only for the goal to be ruled out for the Juventus attacker's toes
straying offside before he tapped home.
And Mikautadze stunned what
was effectively the home crowd in the 32nd minute by sweeping home Giorgi
Kochorashvili's low cross after brilliant play down the right.
The small but loud Georgian
contingent had their heads in their hands shortly afterwards when Mikautadze
look certain to put their team ahead but dragged a great opportunity wide.
Turkey again started in the
front foot after the break but Georgia held their own and Mikautadze was in the
thick of it again in the 52nd minute when Bardakci blocked his effort after
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's burst down the left.
Kvaratskhelia, who was
below-par throughout, then poked a good chance wide in the 62nd minute and only
moments later Guler took aim from distance and arrowed in an unstoppable shot
past the despairing Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Georgia pushed for another
equaliser and came desperately close five minutes after Guler's strike when
Kochorashvili skipped past a couple of weak challenges only to see his shot
rattle the crossbar.
But Kochorashvili and Zuriko
Davitashvili were both unfortunate not to level in added time as Mamardashvili
pushed forward for one last effort and Akturkoglu charged home on the break to
seal a thrilling win.
No comments:
Post a Comment