Georgia stuns Portugal to reach Euro 2024 knockout stages
In a historic upset, Georgia defeated Portugal 2-0 in their final Group F match at Euro 2024. This victory secured their place in the knockout stages for the very first time in a major international tournament.
Georgia stunned the Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal with a quickfire goal in just the second minute. A loose pass by Antonio Silva was intercepted by Mikautadze, who found Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the counter-attack. Kvaratskhelia made no mistake, slotting the ball home for a dream start for the underdogs.
Also Read: Euro 2024: Austria Upsets Netherlands, Poland holds France for a draw
Despite going a goal down early, Portugal dominated possession and continued to threaten the Georgian goal. Cristiano Ronaldo had a few chances, including a free-kick that was well-saved by the Georgian goalkeeper, Giorgi Mamardashvili. João Félix and Bernardo Silva also saw opportunities, but the Georgia defense held firm.
Georgia players dance through the mixed zone after their famous win over Portugal, and qualification into the #Euro2024 knockouts.
🎥 @OliverKay pic.twitter.com/TpqU7exi85
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) June 26, 2024
The second half continued in the same vein, with Portugal pushing for an equalizer. However, Georgia remained dangerous on the counter-attack. In the 53rd minute, a VAR check awarded Georgia a penalty after a tackle on Giorgi Lochoshvili in the box. Georges Mikautadze stepped up and calmly converted the penalty, putting Georgia 2-0 up.
The frustration grew for Portugal as the second half wore on. Ronaldo was shown a yellow card for arguing with the referee after a penalty claim was denied. Portugal made substitutions, bringing on Goncalo Ramos for Ronaldo and Ruben Neves for Paulinho, but they couldn’t find a way past the inspired Georgian defense.
Historic Win for Georgia
Georgia held on for a famous victory, sending their fans into raptures. This win marks a significant milestone for Georgian football, as it’s their first time reaching the knockout stages of a major tournament. The victory is even more impressive considering Portugal had already secured their place in the next round and fielded a number of reserve players.
Georgia will now wait to find out their opponent in the round of 16. Portugal, despite the loss, will also progress to the knockout stages as group winners. This match will be remembered as a night when a young Georgian team shocked a European powerhouse and announced themselves on the international stage.
