Arda Guler wonderstrike breaks Cristiano Ronaldo record as Turks beat brave minnows in thriller.
Match Report
ARDA GULER’S rocket strike on his Euros debut leaves him following in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 19-year-old Real Madrid prodigy produced the 65th minute winner in a jaw-dropping game full of screamers and chaos to become the youngest player to score on his debut in the competition.
Guler (19yrs and 114 days) surpassed Ronaldo’s previous record of 19-years and 128 days set against Greece in 2004 so there’s no surprise why he has been hailed by Jude Bellingham as the “most talented player he has ever seen.”
Guler, who became a Champions League winner two weeks ago as an unused substitute, hit the winner on 65-minutes in a match marred with violent scenes between fans before kick-off.
Georgia, who are in the first-ever major tournament, can keep their heads held high after a gut-busting show saw Georges Mikautadze cancel out Mert Muldur’s opener for Turkey.
Muhammed Kerem Akturkoglu wrapped things up with a third for Turkey in the 97th-minute as Georgia’s goalkeeper was miles out of position.
There had been an Old Trafford roof scenario at both ends as the rain lashed onto fans in the lower tiers at Signal Iduna Park.
A blistering start saw Turkey hit the post on 11-minutes after Kaan Ayhan waltzed into space and drilled an attempt from 25-yards.
On 25-minutes Turkey had lift-off as Arsenal transfer target Ferdi Kadioglu’s cross was only partially cleared by Georgia.
Mert Muldur stepped up on the edge of the penalty area and smashed a peach of a sliced volley beyond Mamardashvili into the Georgia goal.
Only a minute later and Turkey thought they had doubled the lead but Kenan Yildiz was judged just offside after a VAR check.
On 32 minutes Georgia were in dreamland as they scored their first goal of a major tournament.
Giorgi Kochorashvili produced a stepover before crossing to Georges Mikautadze who squeezed a strike in at the near post.
Turkey goalkeeper Mert Gunok could have done better but Georgia couldn’t care less.
Georgia emerged from the restart with a fire in their bellies and Khvicha Kvaratskheila teed up Mikautadze who spun and shot but Abdulkerim Bardakci and Samet Akaydin put their bodies on the line.
There were shouts for a Turkey penalty when 19-year-old Real Madrid prodigy Arda Guler hit the deck after being crowded by three Georgia players but only a free-kick was given.
Hakan Calhanoglu lashed the 30-yard free-kick and stung the hands of Mamardashvili in goal.
Both sides were relentless but hero Guler produced a moment of magic and raised the shoddy Dortmund roof with a corker into the top corner on 65-minutes.
Georgia hit back strongly though and Giorgi Kochorashvili pounced on the ball and cracked one off the crossbar.
Georgia hit the post as Samet Akaydin produced a potential match-saving headed clearance to deny Budu Zivzivadze.
Turkey charged with Georgia’s goalkeeper miles out of position and Akturkoglu slotted home.
2024 European Championship
3–1
- Mert Müldür (25′)
- Arda Güler (65′)
- Kerem Aktürkoğlu (90’+7′)
- Georges Mikautadze (32′)
Match Events
0′ The match is about to start!
10′ Highlight from Turkey vs Georgia
10′ Match Event for Turkey vs Georgia
12′ Highlight from Turkey vs Georgia
25′ GOAL! Turkey 1-0 Georgia (Mert Müldür)
27′ Highlight from Turkey vs Georgia
29′ Highlight from Turkey vs Georgia
32′ GOAL! Turkey 1-1 Georgia (Georges Mikautadze)
35′ Match Event for Turkey vs Georgia
46′ Highlight from Turkey vs Georgia
48′ Match Event for Turkey vs Georgia
49′ Highlight from Turkey vs Georgia
57′ Match Event for Turkey vs Georgia
61′ Highlight from Turkey vs Georgia
65′ Arda Güler with a SCREAMER to put Turkey in front! GOAL! Turkey 2-1 Georgia
68′ Highlight from Turkey vs Georgia
70′ Match Event for Turkey vs Georgia
71′ Highlight from Turkey vs Georgia
79′ Highlight from Turkey vs Georgia
83′ Highlight from Turkey vs Georgia
85′ Highlight from Turkey vs Georgia
86′ Match Event for Turkey vs Georgia
91′ Highlight from Turkey vs Georgia
93′ Match Event for Turkey vs Georgia
96′ Match Event for Turkey vs Georgia
Line-ups
Turkey XI: Mert Günok, Calhanoglu, Kaan Ayhan, Abdülkerim Bardakcı, Samet Akaydin, Ferdi Kadıoğlu, Barış Alper Yılmaz, Mert Müldür, Orkun Kökçü, Arda Güler, Kenan Yıldız
Subs: Tosun, Yokuslu, Zeki Çelik, Demiral, Uğurcan Çakır, Özcan, Altay Bayındır, Yusuf Yazıcı, Akgun, Kerem Aktürkoğlu, İsmail Yüksek, Bertuğ Yıldırım, Ahmetcan Kaplan, Semih Kılıçsoy
Georgia XI: Guram Kashia, Kverkvelia, Otar Kakabadze, Lasha Dvali, Giorgi Kochorashvili, Giorgi Chakvetadze, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Georgiy Tsitaishvili, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Georges Mikautadze, Anzor Mekvabishvili
Subs: Nika Kvekveskiri, Giorgi Gvelesiani, Budu Zivzivadze, Giorgi Kvilitaia, Saba Lobjanidze, Jemal Tabidze, Levan Shengelia, Luka Lochoshvili, Otar Kiteishvili, Sandro Altunashvili, Zuriko Davitashvili, Giorgi Gocholeishvili, Luka Gugeshashvili, Gabriel Sigua
