Turkey wins spectacle against Georgia

SPORTSCHAU EM 2024 Turkey wins spectacle against Georgia Status: June 19, 2024 8:00 a.m. Dream goals, speed and huge intensity: At the 2024 European Championship, Turkey beat Georgia 3-1 (1-1) on Tuesday (June 18, 2024) at the start of Group F in Dortmund. By Johann Schicklinski Mert Müldür (26th minute), Arda Güler (66th) and Kerem Aktürkoğlu (90th+7) scored for the favorites. Georges Mikautadze had equalized for coach Willy Sagnol's team in the meantime (32nd). At least it was the first European Championship goal for debutants Georgia, who showed a strong performance. 1st group match day Dortmund stewards fight against the masses of waterThis spectacle almost fell into the water. There had been heavy thunderstorms in Dortmund since late afternoon, some of which turned into severe storms. Stewards had used brooms and wooden slats to try to sweep the water that was falling like a torrent from the roofs and flowing down the stairs into open drains. In the last hour before the start of the match, the weather calmed down a little so that the match could take place. Shortly before the match - stadium in Dortmund is under water Sportschau UEFA EURO 2024 The two teams' testing phase did not last long, and things started at a high pace. Turkey looked for the finish from the start, and the best chance fell to former Bundesliga professional Kaan Ayhan, who hit the inside post of the Georgian goal from around 20 meters after a pass from Baris Yilmaz (10th). Almost immediately, a long-range shot from 18 meters by Anzor Mekvabishvil was slightly deflected, but Turkish keeper Mert Günok was there with a strong save. Dream goal from Müldür breaks the spell A little later, Turkey took the lead, which was well deserved given that they had over 70 percent possession and more play at that point: a cross from left-back Ferdi Kadioglu was only inadequately cleared by the Georgian defense. Right-back Müldür took the ball directly from 16 meters on a volley and hammered it into the top right corner of the Georgian goal (26th). An absolute dream goal - 1-0 for coach Vincenzo Montella's team. Just a minute later, the Turks were celebrating again. But Ordun Kökçü's goal after a pass from Güler was disallowed by Argentinian referee Facundo Tello after a VAR check for offside. A very narrow but correct decision.Georgia suddenly had the upper hand and equalised.The game continued without a moment's pause. After an attack down the right and a flat cross from Giorgi Kochorashvili, Mikautadze put out his foot and scored in the near corner to make it 1:1 (32'). After the equaliser, Georgia suddenly had the upper hand and almost scored again: Mikautadze put the ball with a scissor-kick just a few centimetres next to the Turkish post (35'). Both teams exchanged blows openly, but without any further goals in the first half.The second half also started furiously: Müldür missed a good chance (46'), a shot from Mikautadze was blocked at the last second by the Turkish defence (52'). The roles were now again as they had been at the start of the first half: Turkey was in control, Georgia was waiting for a counterattack. Hakan Çalhanoğlu's free kick was saved by Georgia's keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili (56th minute), while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia narrowly missed on the Georgian side (63rd minute). Güler scores at 118 km/h. In the 66th minute, Güler made his big appearance: the 19-year-old Real Madrid star moved in from the right after a pass from Ayhan, placed the ball on his strong left foot just 20 meters from the goal and curled it at 118 km/h into the left corner of the goal to make it 2-1 for Turkey. And again - another parallel to the first half - Georgia almost struck back a little later: Giorgi Kochorashvili hit the crossbar of the Turkish goal after a strong individual effort (70th minute). As a result, Turkey withdrew a little and Georgia now applied pressure. However, they lacked a little of the playing skills against the now deep-lying opponent - and probably also the strength after a highly intense game up to that point. Yilmaz (87th) missed a possible 3-1 after a counterattack when he missed a good header. Then in injury time there was a great chance to make it 2-2: After preparatory work by Kvaratskhelia, Mikautadze almost equalized, but his shot from a few meters narrowly missed to the left (90th+3). A little later (90th+5) Kvaratskhelia hit the post with a free kick and Zuriko Davitashvili narrowly missed with the follow-up shot. After a final Georgian corner, Turkey finally cleared and substitute Aktürkoğlu scored the 3-1 final goal into the empty net (90th+7) because Georgian goalkeeper Mamardashvili had come forward.