Euro 2024: Bizarre suicide goal helps Portugal qualify for knockouts after win against Turkey

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A bizarre own goal from Turkey’s Samet Akayeddin helped Portugal qualify for the knockout stage of Euro 2024 thanks to a 3-0 win in Group F on Saturday.

The Turkey defender doubled Portugal’s lead by inadvertently putting the ball into his own net after Bernardo Silva had opened the scoring for the 2016 Euro champions. Bruno Fernandes scored three points from close range in the 55th minute.

The win means Portugal have made it two wins from their first two Group F games, sealing their place in the Round of 16. Meanwhile, Turkey are second in the group after one win and one loss in their opening matches.

Saturday’s game was played in a frenetic atmosphere at Dortmund’s BVB stadium, with the stadium largely filled with Turkish fans.

Both sides seemed to be energized by the fast start, with Portugal making the most of that early momentum through Manchester City’s Silva, who opened the scoring with a left-footed strike in the 21st minute.

And just minutes later, Portugal doubled their lead in bizarre fashion.

A misdirected pass from Portugal came to Akaydin’s feet and, without any pressure from any opposition player, the defender aimed the pass back to where he thought his goalkeeper Altay Bayindir was standing.

Unfortunately for Akaydın, Bayındır came out to claim the pass, which meant the ball was passed quickly past the keeper before rolling over the line, despite Zeki Celik’s best efforts to clear it.

Although Turkey pressed to find a way back into the game, Portugal – seen by many as one of the favorites to challenge for the title – got a third when Cristiano Ronaldo broke the defensive line. And unselfishly passed the ball to Fernandes to tap in. ,

Portugal’s place in the next round is assured but Turkey’s hopes hinge on its final group game against the Czech Republic on Wednesday.

The Czech Republic denied Georgia its first win at a major international tournament as the two teams were held 1-1 in their Group F clash on Saturday.

Georges Mikoutadze scored the first goal of the game at Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion, converting a penalty on the stroke of half-time. The Czech Republic’s Robin Hranák was awarded a spot kick for handball after the video assistant referee (VAR) recommended on-field referee Daniel Siebert consult the pitch-side screen.

However, the Czech Republic equalized on the hour mark after Patrik Schick fired an effort at the back post to level the score.

Euro 2024 is Georgia’s first appearance at a major international football tournament and although it showed glimpses of promise in its opening Group F game on Tuesday, it ultimately lost 3-1 against Turkey.

It was the Czech Republic who made the brightest start to Saturday’s match, with Adam Hlozek putting the ball into Georgia’s goal in the 22nd minute, but his effort was ruled out due to a handball by the 21-year-old forward.

Then, seconds before halftime, it was Hranek’s handball that gave Georgia, the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, a chance to take the lead.

After going ahead, Georgia managed to stay ahead thanks to an inspired performance from their goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.

The 23-year-old, who plays for Spanish club Valencia, made several saves, notably denying Czech striker Schick with an athletic stop shortly after his team went ahead.

Schick eventually got his goal midway through the second half but the Czech Republic could not find the winner, which would have been its first win of the tournament.

In fact, it was Georgia who could have stolen all three points with the final kick of the game, but Saba Lobzhanidze struck from close range, causing several of her teammates to fall to the floor in despair.

Both sides now have one point each and need to win their final group game to maintain any chances of progressing to the knockout stage.

This story has been updated with additional information.