Real Madrid teenager Arda Guler’s sensational goal decides a thrilling encounter as Georgia suffers defeat on its European Championship debut

• Real Madrid teenager Arda Guler’s superb goal helped Turkey to a 3-1 win over Georgia
• In pouring rain, Turkey and Georgia played a thrilling game
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Somehow, amidst this brilliant and breathless assault on all the senses, there came a rare moment of clarity and sublime precision from Real Madrid teenager Arda Guler.

A touch of his thigh to receive the ball and turn it inside from the right, another touch to penetrate into space and consider his options and a third to place his left-footed shot into the top corner from around 25 yards.

A beautiful goal worthy of any competition and one that will expose the talent of the 19-year-old Turk to a wider audience. He is the first teenager to score at the tournament and the first since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2004 to score on his Euro debut.

Just when it seemed impossible, the noise level rose and Dortmund’s iconic Westfalenstadion shook to its foundations.

In Turkey, coach Vincenzo Montella is being urged to include Güler in the team as his abilities are undisputed and he finished his first season in Madrid in such excellent form after injuries ruined the first few months after his move from Fenerbahce.

Without him, they thought, they would lack the creative spark. Perhaps Montella agreed, because he took the plunge and his reward was the perfect gift for his 50th birthday.

“I’m happy to have scored my first goal for the national team,” said Güler. “I’m happy for the whole team about the win. Personal success doesn’t matter to me. I only care about the team and I’m happy to be able to do my part.”

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It was a day of utter chaos, starting with torrential rain before the match and scuffles between rival fans, and only letting up in the seventh minute of added time when Kerem Akturkoglu broke free and scored Turkey’s third goal, firing the ball into an unguarded net.

Georgia goalkeeper Girogi Mamardashvili was left chasing in his rear-view mirror after running up to a corner as his team searched for an equaliser. The arena erupted again. Willy Sagnol’s Georgians were beaten but can take credit for contributing so much to the thrilling spectacle on their major tournament debut.

“It’s never nice when you lose,” said Sagnol. “I don’t want to say that we are happy losers, but we can be proud of our performance.”

It was like the last minute of the first game. Both teams were looking to attack, but Turkey was the dominant force with their two young wingers.

There was Güler on the right wing, all mischievous feints and disguised passes, and on the left was Juventus’ Kenan Yildiz, tall, strong and elegant, with a quick pace and a penchant for shooting inside to threaten the goal.

With Hakan Calhanoglu controlling play from distance and Orkun Kokcu always on the ball, they took control and Kaan Ayhan hit the inside of the post with a powerful shot from 25 yards before taking the lead midway through the first half.

Ferdi Kadioglu’s cross from the left was only partially blocked and as it fell from the sky, Fenerbahce full-back Mert Muldur braced himself and fired a powerful volley that flew and flattened into the top corner.

Two minutes later, they thought they were two goals ahead, but Yildiz was offside and slammed the ball into the net at the far post.

Georgia equalised when Giorgi Kochorashvili danced past Yildiz and passed to Georges Mikautadze, who slotted the ball home. The hopeless debutants briefly had the upper hand, but Turkish dominance returned in the second half until Guler scored.

Turkey dominated the second half until the Guler restored the lead, but they were left fighting for their lives as Georgia applied some last-minute pressure and wasted chances, hitting a post and seeing a shot cleared off the line.

Sagnol’s team were still chasing an equaliser when Akturkoglu pulled away, sealing the result and leaving everyone in attendance breathless.