IMAGES from the Euro 2024 Group F match played between Turkey and Georgia, at Dortmund BVB Stadion, Dortmund, Germany, on Tuesday.
A stunning long-range strike from teenager Arda Guler helped lift Turkey to a 3-1 win in their Euro 2024 Group F opener against tournament debutants Georgia, as they slugged it out in the pouring rain at a raucous Dortmund BVB Stadion on Tuesday.
Arguably the best game of the tournament so far had everything from great goals to shots flying off the woodwork to late drama in an intense atmosphere created by the deafening Turkish fans, thanks to Germany's large Turkish population.
Turkey had most of possession but were often exposed in defence and had to dig deep as Georgia gave as good as they got, threatening an equaliser with a header off the post in the sixth minute as well as forcing a goal-saving block by Samet Akaydin to deny Budu Zivzivadze at the end.
Mert Muldur gave Turkey a deserved lead in the 25th minute, smashing a swerving volley past helpless Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili from the edge of the box.
Kenan Yildiz thought that he had Turkey’s second a little over a minute later in a quick counter attack, but his goal was ruled out for offside.
Georgia, playing in their first major international tournament, equalised in the 32nd minute when Georges Mikautadze turned Giorgi Kochorashvili's cross past Mert Gunok, who should have done better in covering his near post.
Turkey looked livelier in the second half and controlled the action again, cornering Georgia with their relentless high pressure while still leaving themselves open to counters on both wings.
It wasn't until the 19-year-old Guler, coming into the tournament fresh from a run of goals for Real Madrid, scored in the 65th minute that Turkey were able to turn their dominance into a lead.
Man of the match Guler struck an unstoppable curled shot into the top corner beyond the reach of the keeper, showing why he has Real Madrid fans so excited about his potential.
"I've been practising this particular shot recently at the end of training sessions. I am so happy to have scored this way. (Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti) messaged me earlier today and wished me luck."
Turkey forward Kerem Akturkoglu said: "We dreamed of starting with a win. We knew we were coming to a great atmosphere, playing like we're at home. This is a great start but we're just beginning. We had never started with a win at the Euros. This is historic for us.
"We need to stay grounded if we want this victory to mean something. It will only mean something if we can continue this way. I thought (Guler) would score that one as soon as Arda touched that ball. Mashallah, mashallah," Akturkoglu added.
Georgia pressed for a late equaliser but, with Mamardashvili coming all the way up the field for a series of corners, Kerem Akturkoglu broke away, dashed down to the other end and passed into an empty net in added time to make it 3-1.
Earlier, fighting broke out among fans inside the Dortmund BVB Stadion before the Euro 2024 match between Turkey and Georgia on Tuesday.
IMAGE: Turkey and Georgia fans clash in the stands. Photograph: Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters
Around 40 fans from each set of supporters were involved in the brief scuffles and police moved in between them, a Reuters reporter inside the stadium said.
