EURO 2024
Turkey take thrilling win over Georgia
Budu Zivzivadze and Salih Özcan were late substitutes as Georgia were beaten by Turkey on their first European championship appearance in UEFA Euro 2024 Group F.
Turkey 3-1 Georgia
Goals: 1-0 Müldur 25', 1-1 Mikautadze 32', 2-1 Güler 65', 3-1 Aktürkoğlu 90+7
Turkey made the early running on Georgia's first ever appearance at a European championship. Turkey captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu, formerly of Hamburg and Bayer Leverkusen, caused danger with a corner in the opening minutes that Kaan Ayhan, once of Schalke, headed over. Roared on by a big following in Dortmund, Turkey's pressure told as they took the lead when Mert Müldür met a headed clearance with a sublime volley slammed into the top corner from the edge of the box. Having barely ventured forward until then, Georgia responded almost immediately as Georges Mikautadze tucked home a neat cross from Giorgi Kotschoraschvili to level. Turkey continued to dominate in the second period, and after Çalhanoğlu had a stinging free-kick saved, Arda Güler guided a phenomenal strike into the top corner to restore the lead. Kotschoraschvili rattled the crossbar, and Karlsruhe's Budu Zivzivadze came off the bench to join Georgia's late attacking efforts. Turkey - who brought Borussia Dortmund's Salih Özcan on in stoppage time - broke moments after Georgia hit the post and Kerem Aktürkoğlu stroked the ball into an empty net to seal a win in their opening encounter in Group F.