Without the expected gap and lacking virtuosity, Portugal celebrated their first triumph in the Euro 2024 football championship. On Tuesday, fans witnessed the talent of Arda Güler's boots as he led Turkey to victory over Georgia.
With Cristiano Ronaldo on the field, the Portuguese found another hero in Francisco Conceiçao, who scored in the 92nd minute to rescue his team from a draw after struggling against the Czech Republic's tricks.
Undoubtedly, the squad led by Roberto Martínez dominated the Group F match but encountered difficulties overcoming the Czech's organized defense. They ultimately prevailed 2-1 at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig. The other goals were an own goal by Robin Hranáč (69) and a score by Lukáš Provod (62).
In the most thrilling match so far, the Turks defeated a resilient Georgian team 3-1, who never gave up. However, the loudest cheers were reserved for Real Madrid's Güler.
The victors took control of the scoreboard thanks to a volley from Mert Müldür, who netted a defensive rebound as early as the 25th minute. Despite the opposing offense, the Turks scored again, but the VAR disallowed the goal due to offside. Then, Georgia responded through Georges Mikautadze (32) to level the game.
In the second half, Güler (64) dazzled with a superb long-range shot for a 2-1 lead that seemed decisive. However, the losers came close to equalizing at the end. In a play where the ball hit the post, Kerem Aktürkoğlu (97) executed a solo counterattack and sealed the 3-1 win without the goalkeeper's pressure.
For now, due to goal difference, Turkey leads Group F ahead of Portugal, both with three points, while Georgia and the Czech Republic are at the bottom of the standings.
Euro 2024 Group F Highlights and Key Moments
Here are some frequently asked questions about the Euro 2024 Group F matches and their key moments.
Who scored the winning goal for Portugal against the Czech Republic?
Francisco Conceiçao scored the winning goal for Portugal in the 92nd minute.
How did Turkey's Mert Müldür contribute to the match against Georgia?
Mert Müldür scored the first goal for Turkey with a volley from a defensive rebound.
Why was Turkey's second goal against Georgia disallowed?
The second goal was disallowed by VAR due to offside.
What was the final score of the Turkey vs. Georgia match?
Turkey won the match against Georgia with a final score of 3-1.