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Georgia pulled off Euro 2024’s biggest upset yet with a sensational 2-0 win over Portugal to book their place in the Round of 16.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia gave Georgia the lead within two minutes after a terrible error in the Portuguese defence, before Georges Mikoutadze scored the second goal from the penalty spot in the second half.
Competing in the first major tournament in the country’s history, Georgia has captured the hearts of fans at Euro 2024 for their fearlessness and high-intensity football.
Both featured again in Wednesday’s win as Georgia ultimately won with relative ease, qualifying for the knockout stage as one of the four best third-placed teams of the tournament.
Elsewhere, Turkey’s 2-1 win against the Czech Republic means the team remains second in Group F behind Portugal.
Portugal had already qualified for the knockout stage with wins over the Czech Republic and Turkey and were trying to become the second team after Spain to win all three group games at Euro 2024.
Meanwhile, Georgia knew that only a win would be enough to reach the Round of 16.
The lowest-ranked team at Euro 2024, Georgia have proven no weaklings in their games so far during the tournament, losing by a narrow margin against Turkey and drawing with the Czech Republic.
Given that the team had already qualified, perhaps due to a lack of focus and intensity, Portugal conceded the first goal to Georgia in less than two minutes of the game.
A terrific back pass from Antonio Silva laid the ball straight to Mikoutadze, whose through ball found Kvaratskhelia inside the box and the Napoli forward brilliantly headed past Diogo Costa.
The roar inside the Arena Aufschalke in Gelsenkirchen was so loud that it could be heard even in Tbilisi.
Portugal dominated the ball for the rest of the first half, but were limited to long shots due to Georgia’s diligent defense.
Goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was equal to them all, keeping out efforts from the increasingly frustrated Ronaldo and Joao Felix.
Ronaldo let his frustration get the better of him after claiming he should have received a penalty for pulling his shirt, resulting in a yellow card for dissent.
For all Portugal’s dominance, Georgia should have doubled their lead after 35 minutes, but Giorgi Gwelesiani could not make contact with his header after rising to try to get on the end of Kvaratskhelia’s free kick.
Kvaratskhelia had a great chance to score Georgia’s second goal just minutes into the second half after poor defending by Portugal, but his shot missed from just 10 yards.
However, Georgia was not to be denied its second goal. After a long wait for a break in play – which came only when Mamardashvili sensationally pushed back Diogo Dalot’s long-range strike for a corner – VAR ruled that Otar Kitashvili had been fouled earlier in the game. The foul was committed inside the penalty area.
Mikoutadze stepped up and calmly side-footed the ball into the bottom corner, sending thousands of Georgia fans into the jungle of the Arena Aufschalke for the second time this evening.
It was Mikoutadze’s third goal of the tournament, making him the top scorer at Euro 2024.
Georgia were far from maintaining their lead in the second half and were good value for their two-goal advantage by comfortably holding Portugal at arm’s length.
Of the two teams, Georgia looked the most likely to get the next goal and were a constant threat on the counterattack.
Nelson Semedo had Portugal’s best chance of the half, but the indomitable Mamardashvili again made a powerful tackle to keep the clean sheet.
When the referee called full time, the Georgian bench emptied onto the pitch and the players celebrated in front of their fans as if they had won the entire tournament.
Ranked 74th in the world and in a country of less than four million people, it was the biggest night of football in the country’s history.
This story has been updated with additional reporting.