Georgia made a sensational progress to the top 16 and the European Championship play-offs by defeating Cristiano Ronaldo-starred Portugal 2-0 in the final round of the first group.
Georgia pulled off a sensational trick at the European Football Championship, when the first-time team defeated Portugal, one of the continent’s top players, 2–0 and advanced to the next round of the top 16. Portugal had already secured their next place and went into the match with their second team, but the superstar of the team Cristiano Ronaldo still played.
However, Ronaldo failed to score against Georgia. Ronaldo was substituted in the 66th minute. The Portuguese superstar had a tantrum when he went to change and kicked a drink bottle, for example. At that point, Georgia was already two goals away.
Ronaldo made questionable history, as he was left without a goal in the first group stage for the first time in his career. Ronaldo had scored in the first half in all of his previous ten prestigious competitions. (European Championships 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 and World Championships 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022).
Portugal’s anti-hero was a defender Antonio Silva. In the second minute of the match, the Georgian star Khvitsha Kvaratskhelia struck in the second minute of the match after a bad pass by Antonio Silva.
Georges Mikautadze in turn scored Georgia’s second goal from the penalty spot after Silva was brought down Luka Lochoshvilin in the penalty area.
Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez described as fresh According to A Bola magazinethat Silva is a young player for whom such experiences bring maturity.
– I think the first goal had a direct impact. It took us too long to find our own game. We didn’t get the start we wanted. The opponent was intense and defended in a low block. It was important for them to score a quick opening goal. We didn’t have the same intensity. It affected the final result, Martinez commented on the match.
Mikautaudze unexpectedly leads the goal exchange of the European Championship with three goals. In the match played in Gelsenkirchen, the Georgians started a wild celebration after the victory and securing the next place. Many Georgians cried on the field and in the stands. Georgia advanced from the comparison of the best group threes.
Along with Portugal and Georgia, the Czech Republic also advanced from Group F. Turkey lost to the Czech Republic in the final game of the EC group 1–2.
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