Georges Mikautadze stole the show with a goal and an assist to send Georgia into the knockout stages of UEFA Euro 2024 with a 2-0 win against Portugal, spoiling Cristiano Ronaldo’s landmark.
Portugal captain Ronaldo became the first European player to make 50 World Cup and Euro appearances on Wednesday, but the Group F encounter belonged to Georgia.
Mikautadze dispossessed Khvich Kvaratskhelia in the second minute of the opener in Gelsenkirchen before coolly converting the penalty after the break to seal Georgia’s first-ever win at a major tournament.
Willy Sagnolo’s side will be rewarded with Sunday’s Under-16 clash with Spain, while Portugal must improve on Monday’s clash with Slovenia in Frankfurt.
Roberto Martinez’s men were stunned almost immediately when Mikautadze slipped past Kvaratskhelia and fired a left-footed shot into the bottom right corner.
Timed at just one minute and 32 seconds, it was the fastest goal Portugal had ever conceded at the Euros and Martinez’s side were slow to respond.
Ronaldo tested Giorgio Mamardashvili’s hands with a thunderous long-range free-kick, while Francisco Conceicao struck from a tight angle and Joao Felix fired over optimistically.
Still, Georgia came close to doubling their lead when Kvaratskhelia’s free-kick narrowly eluded Giorgi Gvelesiani before Mamardashvili pounced at the other end.
Ronaldo was thwarted for a goal shortly after half-time when Lasha Dvali produced a heroic diving block to divert from a prone position inside Georgia’s six-yard box.
Kvaratskhelia pounced on a great chance near the penalty spot moments later and flicked it wide, but Antonio Silva’s clumsy tackle on Luka Lochoshvili allowed Georgia to extend their advantage.
Referee Sandro Scharer pointed to the spot after VAR recommended a check on the pitch and Mikautadze had no problem slipping past Diogo Costa’s reach into the bottom right-hand corner after 57 minutes.
A frustrated Ronaldo was substituted after more than 20 minutes of play before Nelson Semedo and Conceicao went close in the dying stages of the surprise defeat as Portugal limped into the knockout stages.
Portugal player ratings
GK: Diogo Costa – 6/10
CB: Antonio Silva – 3/10
CB: Danilo Pereira – 6/10
CB: Goncalo Inacio – 5/10
RM: Diogo Dalot – 6/10
CM: Joao Palhinha – 6/10
CM: Joao Neves – 6/10
LM: Pedro Neto – 5/10
RF: Francisco Conceicao – 6/10
ST: Cristiano Ronaldo (c) – 4/10
LF: Joao Felix – 6/10
SUB: Ruben Neves (46′ for Palhinha) – 5/10
SUB: Nelson Semedo (66′ for A. Silva) – 5/10
SUB: Goncalo Ramos (66′ for Ronaldo) – 4/10
SUB: Matheus Nunes (75′ for J. Neves) – 6/10
SUB: Diogo Jota (75′ for Neto) – 5/10
