Georgia defeats Portugal 2-0 and advances to the Euro 2024 semifinals
After defeating Portugal 2-0 on Wednesday, Georgia advanced to the round of 16 in Euro 2024—a historic victory in the former Soviet Republic’s first ever major international competition.
In less than a minute, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia gave Georgia a startling lead in Gelsenkirchen over a weaker Portugal squad.
With a penalty kick in the 57th minute, Georges Mikautadze then made sure Georgia would have the greatest football triumph in the history of the Black Sea nation.
After winning their first-ever European Championship, Willy Sagnol’s team advanced from Group F as one of the top four third-place teams, setting up a difficult matchup with a fiery Spain on Sunday.
As group champions and head coach Roberto Martinez made eight changes from the squad that thrashed Turkey to secure top place the previous weekend, Portugal had already advanced to the next round.
But for the majority of the game, his team was in control and appeared to have an equalizer before Antonio Silva,
who gave up the ball for the opening goal, was severely penalized for making slight contact with Luka Lochoshvili, which resulted in the game-winning penalty.
Whatever the case, Martinez will be able to draw upon a first team that is largely rested when Portugal takes on Slovenia on Monday, barring any injuries.
makers of history
Silva gave possession to Mikautadze carelessly, and Mikautadze, who had scored goals in Georgia’s last two games against Turkey and the Czech Republic, turned provider for Kvaratskhelia.
Mikautadze found Kvaratskhelia with a superbly weighted pass, and the striker scored with precision from his favorite position in the inside-right channel.
Georgia, who would have entered the game on Wednesday with more than one point if they had taken use of their opportunities, finished with an unusually clinical performance.
From that point on, Sagnol’s team was happy to remain in the background and guard their slim lead while Portugal launched waves of attacks against a densely populated defense.
Just before the half-hour mark, Ronaldo was booked for dissent after what he believed to be a foul by Lochoshvili.
In the 17th minute, he had first crushed a free kick right at Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
While Ronaldo was protesting to referee Sandro Scherer, Francisco Conceicao struck the side netting. A few moments later, Joao Felix fizzed a long-range attempt narrowly wide.
Soon after the break, Ronaldo was even more frustrated when he appeared likely to score from a corner, only for Lasha Dvali to unintentionally rescue the day with his back.
Next, Kvaratskhelia squandered a fantastic opportunity to extend his team’s lead before Mikautadze, Georgia’s greatest player thus far in the competition, scored his third goal in as many games from the penalty spot.
To the delight of their supporters, Georgia then united and made infrequent but daring incursions into Portugal’s defensive third in an attempt to hold out for the victory.
