The Euro 2024 match between Turkey and Georgia was nothing short of spectacular. Played under an epic downpour at the Westfalenstadion, this Group F encounter delivered a night of unforgettable football. With a staggering 103 attacks, 36 shots, and four stunning goals – not to mention three strikes against the woodwork – it was a game that had everything.
This match was more than just a game; it was a showcase of passion, skill, and drama. Georges Mikautadze etched his name in history by scoring Georgia’s first-ever goal in a major tournament. Adding to the spectacle were unbelievable goals from Turkish wonderkid Arda Guler and Mert Muldur, each worthy of highlight reels for years to come. And in a final flourish of drama, Kerem Akturkoglu sealed the victory for Turkey with a breathtaking 80-yard sprint to an empty net, just moments after Georgia threatened to equalize. The transition from Georgia’s desperate attack to Turkey’s decisive counter was a microcosm of the entire breathless evening.
Just seconds before Akturkoglu’s goal, Georgia had a golden opportunity to equalize – not just once, but for the third time in added time. Imagine the scenes if they had converted! Goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili even ventured forward for a corner, hoping to become an unlikely hero. But fate had other plans. The ball was cleared, and Akturkoglu became the hero instead, leading to jubilant Turkish celebrations as the bench emptied and the stadium erupted in cheers. Turkey secured the win, but truly, the game itself was the real victor.
To single out one player from this contest feels almost unfair. It was a collective masterclass of exhilarating football. Watching it was exhausting yet exhilarating, leaving fans wanting to applaud every player and supporter involved. Beyond national pride and the crucial points for Turkey, the match was a pure celebration of the beautiful game, overflowing with enthusiasm and joy.
Reflecting on the epic clash, Georgia’s coach Willy Sagnol, despite the defeat, acknowledged the sheer quality of the spectacle. “Turkey played a fantastic match, Georgia also played a fantastic match,” he conceded. He perfectly captured the symbiotic relationship between the atmosphere and the action: “That match and the atmosphere fit. I don’t know if the atmosphere made the match or the match made the atmosphere but it was a great moment.”
Vincenzo Montella, Turkey’s coach, celebrated his 50th birthday on this memorable night. “They have given me a beautiful gift,” he remarked, clearly moved by the performance and the victory.
The intensity was relentless for the full 96 minutes. The drama could have begun even earlier, just nine minutes into the game, when Kaan Ayhan unleashed a powerful shot that cannoned off the post at 122kmh. The ball agonizingly danced along the goal line before going out for a goal kick. Even in those early moments, the signs of an explosive match were evident. Ayhan had already threatened with a header over the bar, and Abdulkerim Bardakci had directed a header just wide.
Turkey, fueled by their passionate supporters, started with palpable dynamism. The game itself quickly escalated in pace, building momentum that carried it to the final whistle, bringing with it a cascade of unforgettable moments and goals.
The opening goal was a masterpiece of skill and technique. A slick passing move involving Kenan Yildiz, Orkun Kokcu, and Ferdi Kadioglu culminated in the ball finding its way to Mert Muldur. With incredible technique, Muldur unleashed a stunning volley with the outside of his boot, the ball curving away from Georgia’s goalkeeper Mamardashvili and soaring into the top corner of the net.
The Turkish fans, a sea of red in the stands, erupted in joyous celebration. Smoke filled the air, adding to the electric atmosphere. Just two minutes later, the Turkish supporters thought they had another reason to celebrate when Yildiz found the net. However, VAR intervened, displaying a message that tempered the celebrations: “Turkey player No 19 was in an offside position when scoring.”
This reprieve seemed to liberate Georgia. Seizing their opportunity, they made history. Giorgi Kochorashvili initiated the attack, and Georges Mikautadze finished it, slotting the ball home to score Georgia’s first ever goal in a major international tournament. Tears of joy flowed in the Georgian stands, and even in the press area, the emotional significance of the moment was palpable. Georgia, buoyed by the equalizer, almost scored again immediately, Otar Kakabadze heading the ball down for Mikautadze, who this time directed his shot just wide.
Thankfully, the halftime break did nothing to diminish the incredible momentum of the match. It retained its irresistible energy, fueled by the players, the fans, and the sheer occasion. Yildiz had another chance for Turkey, and Giorgi Tsitaishvili threatened for Georgia. Another opportunity fell to Mikautadze, but Turkish defenders threw their bodies in the way to block the shot. Hakan Calhanoglu’s free-kick was expertly pushed away by Mamardashvili. And Georgia’s talisman, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, poked a shot just wide.
Then came Arda Guler’s moment of magic. What was truly astonishing about Guler’s breathtaking curler from 25 yards was the sense of inevitability as soon as the ball left his left foot. At just 19 years old, he became the youngest debutant scorer in European Championship history, adding another layer of history to this incredible game. He stood with his hand cupped to his ear, soaking in the thunderous applause – “Just listen to that”.
If Guler’s goal was extraordinary, Georgia almost responded with an equally brilliant equalizer. Kochorashvili displayed sublime skill to lift the ball over a Turkish defender with a delicate touch, only to see his shot crash against the crossbar.
Georgia, in their first major tournament for 30 years, never stopped fighting, pushing relentlessly until the very end. They came agonizingly close to equalizing deep into injury time. A chaotic scramble in the Turkish penalty area saw Mekvabishvili and Kochorashvili somehow miss from point-blank range. Kvaratskhelia then struck the post. And Zuriko Davitashvili was denied by a last-ditch clearance on the goal line. This frantic sequence of near misses culminated in a final corner, with goalkeeper Mamardashvili joining the attack, a historic equalizer seemingly within reach. But it was not to be. Instead, the ball was cleared, and Akturkoglu broke free, racing away to score the decisive goal and conclude an astonishing night of football with one final, explosive celebration.
The Turkey vs Georgia Euro 2024 match will be remembered as an instant classic, a game that embodied the passion, drama, and sheer excitement of international football.
