Aiming to make their first WC finals appearance since that famous run in the Far East, Turkey didn’t take long to strike. Having opened the scoring in the last H2H at UEFA Euro 2024, Mert Muldur broke the deadlock once again, as he planted a towering header from Arda Guler’s precise delivery past Giorgi Mamardashvili after only three minutes.
And one could have easily become two for Turkey seven minutes later, if it wasn’t for a last-ditch defensive deflection denying Guler from getting his name on the scoresheet.
The Real Madrid wonderkid was at it again in the 24th minute, with a fierce effort that flew narrowly wide of the post.
Georgia didn’t learn their lesson though, and Turkey eventually doubled their advantage four minutes before half-time, as the in-form figure of Kerem Akturkoglu – who netted five times during the Crescent-Stars’ successful 2024/25 UEFA Nations League campaign – expertly guided the ball into the bottom corner of the net from inside the area.
It took only seven minutes of the second half for Akturkoğlu to complete his brace and surely end any hopes the hosts might have had of a comeback. Georgia inexplicably lost possession within their own half, which allowed Guler and Oguz Aydin to feed the striker, who clinically converted from close range.
Georgia did give Turkey goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakır something to do in the 63rd minute – picking the ball out of the back of the net, to be precise – as Zuriko Davitashvili slotted home the rebound after Anzor Mekvabishvili’s effort had struck the post.
Tempers then flared up at the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena in the 71st minute, as Turkey were reduced to 10 men. Referee Davide Massa not only sent off substitute Baris Alper Yılmaz for a horror challenge on Giorgi Kochorashvili’s ankle, but gave Georgia manager Willy Sangol his marching orders as well.
The rest of the game was played out in calmer waters apart from Georgia giving Turkey a late scare with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scoring deep into injury time with a perfectly-passed shot into the corner from the edge of the area.
An away day success in the Georgian capital for Turkey puts them in fine stride for Sunday’s mouth-watering clash against reigning European champions and Group E favourites Spain.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Mert Muldur (Turkey)
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