New Delhi: Georgia make history after defeating Portugal 2-0 to qualify for the knockout stages in their debut campaign. It was a fabulous performance by the Georgian side who scored an early goal to take the advantage over Portugal who were left shocked as they conceded after just two minutes into the match. Khvicha Kvaratskelia scored a wonderful goal to give Georgia the lead which was later doubled by the current UEFA Euro 2024 top scorer, Georges Mikautadze, after he converted the penalty in the 57th minute.
Georgia have a massive task ahead in the round of 16 as they face the high flying Spain. but their resilience and high spirit after winning this game would play a massive role in their attempt to cause another major upset. However for Portugal, It was a complete horror show for their young defender Antonio Silva, who certainly didn’t have a good time on the pitch after being the main culprit behind the first goal. His night went from bad to worse after he gave away the penalty which was converted by Mikautadze.
Portugale will be facing Slovenia in the round of 16 and will be hoping to get the best possible result as they are the clear favourites to win the clash and move on to the quarter final.
Antonio Silva’s disastrous performance
26 June 2024, North Rhine-Westphalia, Gelsenkirchen: Soccer: European Championship, Georgia – Portugal, preliminary round, Group F, match day 3, Schalke Arena, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (r) and Portugal’s Antonio Silva (l) are substituted by Portugal’s coach Roberto Martinez (M). Photo: Bernd Thissen/dpa (Photo by Bernd Thissen/picture alliance via Getty Images)
The young 20-year-old Benfica prodigy Antonio Silva has a bright future ahead and he is currently one of the best best young defenders in the world. He has been a towering figure for his club and started his first ever Euro match against Georgia, which eventually turned out to be a complete horror show for him. He was directly responsible for both the goals that Georgia scored as he gave away the ball cheaply to Mikautadze as he progressed forward to find Khvicha Kvaratskhelia who scored the goal after just two minutes. It was a nightmare start for the young defender which certainly took a toll on his confidence since it was his first Euro start.
However, he gave away the penalty after carelessly making the contact with Lochoshivli. The penalty was given after a VAR check and it was converted by Mikautadze as Silva was left disappointed.
Georges Mikautadze becomes the current top scorer of euro 2024
GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY – JUNE 26: Georges Mikautadze of Georgia celebrates the win at the end of the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Georgia and Portugal at Arena AufSchalke on June 26, 2024 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. (Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)
They eventually did score a second in 57th minute of the game as Mikautadze converted a penalty to give Georgia a two goal advantage. Lochoshvili bursted into the box, drawing contact from Antonio Silva who had a shambolic performance. The penalty wasn’t given in the first place as the refree took the consultation of VAR, that suggested that it was a penalty for Georgia. Mikautadze stepped up to take the spot kick and despite Diogo Costa going the right way, he couldn’t save the penalty from Mikautadze.
Mikautadze has been directly involved in all four of Georgia’s goals so far at Euro 2024, and his spot-kick put Georgia in the driver’s seat as it provided them wih the perfect two goals cushion that completely destroyed Portugal’s strategy and their morale.
Portugal concede the fastest goal in their history of Euros
GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY – JUNE 26: Diogo Dalot of Portugal battles for possession with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of Georgia during the Group F – UEFA EURO 2024 match between Georgia and Portugal at Arena AufSchalke on June 26, 2024 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. (Photo by Pablo Morano/BSR Agency/Getty Images)
Georgia got their first goal after just one minute and 32 seconds which is also the fastest goal that Portugal have conceded in the Euro championship. It was Paul Scholes for England who scored the previous fastest goal against Portugal that was scored within three minutes back in 2000 Euro campaign. It was Khvicha Kvaratskhelia who scored a wonderful goal after Antonio Silva made a blunder at the back, passing the ball straight to Mikautadze who passed the ball straight into the path of Kvaratskhelia who sprinted towards the goal, beating the defenders and finishing it precisely, beyond the Portuguese goalkeeper Doigo Costa.
This goal was a massive confidence boost for the Georgian side as they didn’t stop there and kept on pushing for a second goal. They eventually did score a second in 57th minute of the game as Mikautadze converted a penalty to give Georgia a two goal advantage.
It was a highly entertaining match between Portugal, that eventually saw Georgia making history by defeating the group toppers, Portugal and making it into the knockout stages. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
