Turkey edge past Georgia with two wonderful strikes in Group F opener

Georgia lose 3-1 to Turkey in the opening game of group F and their debut in a major competition.

                                                        Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Georges Mikautadze scored Georgia's first ever goal at a major tournament but their celebrations were cut short after Turkey scored two incredible goals to squeeze past the Jvarosnebi.

His strike came in the 32nd minute which was the equaliser for Georgia. Mikautadze smoothly sorted his feet out to push the ball past Mert Günok and into the back of the net after a good low cross from Giorgi Kochorashvili,

However Turkey scored two outrageous goals to deny Georgia a share of the points.

Mert Muldur opened the scoring when he wonderfully struck a powerful volley from the edge of the box after a cross was only partially cleared which flew past Giorgi Mamardashvili in the Georgia goal.

Real Madrid youngster Arda Güler then added a second for Turkey with an incredible effort to leave Mamardashvili diving for air. Güler picked the ball up 25 yards out and with Georgia players allowing him space, he looked up and fired a blistering strike into the top left corner.

It was a valiant effort from Georgia who had their chances and even rattled the crossbar. Giorgi Kochorashvili picked the ball up and drived at the Turkey before he got his shot away which struck against the crossbar.

With Georgia looking for another equaliser at the death of the game Kochorashvili and Mikautadze got in each others way and messed the shot up. Then Georgia hit the post from a freekick and Samet Akaydin provided a match-winning headed clearance to deny deny Budu Zivzivadze.

Turkey added their third with the last kick of the game when Muhammed Kerem Aktürkoğlu found himself passing the ball into an empty net.

Turkey could have turned the game on its head in the 27th minute when they added a second to their 1-0 lead. Kenan Yildiz was found to be in an offside position though which resulted in the goal being chalked off and Georgia scoring just five minutes later.