National Team starts World Cup Qualifiers with a win: Two goals from Kerem
In the first match of Group E in the FIFA 2026 World Cup European Qualifiers, the National Team faced Georgia away from home. The national team emerged victorious from the match.
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The Crescent-Stars found the goal in just the 3rd minute of the match played at the Boris Paichadze National Stadium. Mert Müldür rose well to a corner kick taken by Arda Güler and headed the ball in to make the score 1-0.
In the 41st minute, the Crescent-Stars found the back of the net for the second time. Following a free kick, Kerem Aktürkoğlu found the ball in a scramble inside the penalty area and his inside-foot shot deflected off the opposing defense into the net: 0-2.
The first half of the match ended with a 2-0 lead for the Red-and-Whites.
Continuing their effective play from the first half into the second, the national team extended the lead to 3 in the 52nd minute. Yunus Akgün intercepted the ball after pressure and immediately passed it to Arda Güler. Arda Güler returned the ball to Yunus without hesitation. Kerem Aktürkoğlu made a good strike on the ball crossed into the penalty area by Yunus from the penalty spot to make it 3-0.
Georgia reduced the deficit to 2 in the 63rd minute. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's shot hit the post and returned to the field of play. Zuriko Davitashvili followed the rebound well and scored to make the score 3-1.
The National Team was reduced to 10 men in the 71st minute of the match. Following a VAR review of Barış Alper Yılmaz's challenge on Kochorashvili, the Crescent-Stars were left with 10 men on the field.
Georgia reduced the deficit to 1 with a goal from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the 90+8th minute: 3-2.
Managing to maintain their score advantage for the remainder of the match, the National Football Team left the field with a 3-2 victory and started the qualifiers with 3 points.
The National Football Team will host Spain in Konya on Sunday, September 7, for their 2nd match in Group E.