WATCH: Mert Muldur's thunderous strike outside the box gives Turkey lead against Georgia in UEFA Euro 2024

Turkey faced off against Georgia in the first game of Group F of the UEFA Euro 2024. The Crescent-Stars started the game excellently as they kept the pressure on their opponents and controlled the tempo of the game. Mert Muldur scored the opening goal of the game as the Turkish right-back's thunderous strike from outside the box gave them the lead in the game.

Turkey, enters the tournament with poor form, having lost all five of their previous matches. They do, however, have a good squad, including Real Madrid's Arda Guler and Benfica's Orkun Kokcu, who are hoping to make a mark on this tournament and improve on their bottom-place record at Euro 2020. 

Georgia is participating in its first international event, having defeated Greece on penalties in the qualification play-offs. Since then, they've won 3-1 over Montenegro and, led by Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, will look to shock the odds this evening. Two minutes after the first goal, Turkey's Kenan Yildiz felt he had doubled the lead, but his goal was ruled out due to offside by VAR.

Here's the video

MERT MULDUR SCORES A BANGER FOR TURKEY#TURGEO #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/VVQ0iVAajv

— Sideline Recaps (@SidelineRecaps) June 18, 2024

Georges Mikautadze creates history for Georgia

Later Georges Mikautadze scored the equalising goal which is also Gerorgia’s first-ever European Championship goal in the tournament. The debutant after scoring got control of the game and kept on the pressure on Turkey, they went close to taking the lead as well but failed to capitalise on the chance, and the first half ended 1-1. 

Turkiye dominated, but with little to show for it. They attempted to play B.A. Yilmaz behind Georgia's backline, but he was too isolated to be effective. Kaan Ayhan could have done better with a free header from a corner in the sixth minute, but his effort went over the bar. Minutes later, back-to-back chances were squandered, with Abdulkerim Bardakci headed wide from a corner before Ayhan rang a shot from distance off the post in the tenth minute at 122 km/h.