Georgia have stunned Portugal to reach the knockouts at Euro 2024 - their first ever major tournament - with a 2-0 win over the former European champions, settled by an early Khvicha Kvaratskhelia strike and a Georges Mikautadze penalty.
Albeit against a largely second-string Portugal, who had already made it into the next round, the victory represented the greatest result for Georgia, since the country gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
After finishing a disappointing fourth in their Euro qualifying group, Georgia had to take a circuitous route to Germany, first by winning their group in the less glamorous Euro Nations tournament and then defeating Greece in a playoff.
There was nothing undeserved about the way coach Willy Sagnol, the former Bayern Munich and France defender, and his side claimed a third-place finish in the tournament's Group F and set up a last-16 meeting with three-time Euro winners Spain.
Georgia's win also means England will line up against Slovakia, Romania take on Netherlands and Portugal face Slovenia in the round of 16. Hungary, who had been in contention for a spot in the next round, were edged out.
The tournament debutants took the lead in the second minute, when Napoli winger Kvaratskhelia raced away, after a careless pass by Antonio Silva, and powered a low shot past Diogo Costa in Portugal's goal.
Cristiano Ronaldo - one of only three starters for Portugal who also played in their 3-0 win over Turkey - stretched and strained for every ball, as he sought to become the oldest goalscorer at a Euro tournament at the age of 39.
Georgia defended as if their lives depended upon it and sought to catch Portugal on the break. In the 53rd minute, Silva compounded his earlier error by committing a foul in the box that was awarded a penalty after a video review check.
Mikautadze, who had provided the pass for Kvaratskhelia to open the scoring, steered his spot kick past Costa, making him the top scorer at Euro 2024 so far with three goals.
Ronaldo was booked in the first half for arguing and cut a frustrated figure when he was substituted after the break, kicking out at a water bottle.
Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili made late saves to keep Portugal at bay in the final minutes, and at full-time Georgia's squad and coaching staff sprinted onto the field to celebrate in front of thousands of their fans.
Meanwhile, Turkey have held off a spirited comeback from the Czech Republic and scored a late winner to seal a 2-1 triumph that confirmed second place in Euro 2024 Group F and booked a last-16 clash with Austria.
The Czechs needed a win to stand any chance of advancing, but the 20th-minute dismissal of attacking midfielder Antonin Barak put a major dent in their plans
Turkey captain Hakan Calhanoglu's 50th-minute strike made matters even worse, but Tomas Soucek's equaliser 16 minutes later offered the Czechs hope, but Turkey secured victory with a stoppage-time strike from Cenk Tosun.
Reuters
