Turkey scored two objective of the match contenders as they began their Euro 2024 marketing campaign with a 3-1 win over fearless newcomers Georgia.
Vincenzo Montella’s aspect made a robust begin in Dortmund and, after Kaan Ayhan struck the woodwork, they established a deserved lead with one of many crispest strikes of the match thus far.
A cross from Ferdi Kadioglu was headed away into the trail of Mert Muldur, who discovered the highest proper nook with a surprising first-time volley.
With the Georgia defence nonetheless reeling from the opener, Kenan Yildiz was denied a second inside two minutes after a VAR assessment noticed he had strayed offside earlier than a close-range end.
Willy Sagnol’s aspect subsequently took benefit of the reprieve, with Georges Mikautadze beating Mert Gunok at his close to publish to attain the nation’s first objective at a significant worldwide match.
The momentum started to sway in Turkey’s favour after the break, however Georgia nearly stored them at bay – till Guler discovered a pocket of area on the appropriate, drove to the sting of the field and curled a magnificence into the highest nook.
The 19-year-old turned simply the third teenager to attain on their first look within the Euros, after Ferenc Bene for Hungary towards Spain in 1964 and Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal towards Greece in 2004.
Nonetheless Georgia pushed. Giorgi Kochorashvili struck the crossbar, earlier than a mix-up between himself and Mikautadze noticed a late probability come and go, and a free-kick was bounced onto the right-hand publish and away.
However within the closing phases, Gunok punched a nook clear and, together with his reverse quantity Giorgi Mamardashvili having come ahead for the set-piece, Kerem Akturkoglu raced clear in the direction of an open objective and slotted in to seal the win.