Georgia 2-3 Turkey Player Ratings: Kerem Aktürkoğlu Rated 8/10 as Thrilling Encounter Ends in 3-2

What a rollercoaster of a match it was between the two European sides Georgia and Turkey. From our perspective, this was a chaotic but utterly captivating game of football in the World Cup qualifiers match. Turkey flew out of the blocks, looking dominant and clinical. They established a commanding three-goal lead that, honestly, looked like it would seal the deal without much fuss, but the late goal scored by Kvataskhelia did scare the turkey national football team.

Mert Müldür opened the scoring early, and two goals from the impressive Kerem Aktürkoğlu seemed to put the game to bed. But what stood out to us was Georgia's incredible resilience. They never gave up the fight till the final whistle was blown after an additional 9 minutes.

Georgia clawed their way back into the contest with goals from the brilliant Zuriko Davitashvili and a late strike from their Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Turkey were forced to hang on, particularly after going down to ten men. In the end, they just about managed to see out a thrilling 3-2 victory.

Here are the Georgia Vs Turkey Player Ratings

Georgia Player Ratings vs Turkey

Here are our Georgia Player Ratings vs Turkey

Goalkeeper

Giorgi Mamardashvili - 5.0: It was a truly tough day at the office for the Georgian keeper. Conceding three goals is never good for your rating, and he looked a bit helpless for all of them. While he made a couple of saves, we noticed he wasn't as commanding as we've seen him be in the past. He couldn't do much about the strikes, but the sheer volume of goals against him mars his performance. A day he'll want to forget quickly.

Defenders

Otar Kakabadze - 5.5: A mixed bag from the defender. He was involved in the play, getting plenty of touches, but he lost possession quite a bit. He picked up a yellow card and struggled to contain Turkey's runners in the first half. He was substituted late on as Georgia pushed for an equalizer. From our perspective, he worked hard but lacked the quality needed on the day.

Guram Kashia - 5.0: The captain had a nightmare moment with an error that led directly to a goal. That's a massive blot on any defender's copybook, and it really put his team on the back foot. While he made a number of clearances and was generally solid otherwise, a mistake of that magnitude is impossible to overlook. It was a shame because his leadership is usually so vital.

Saba Goglichidze - 5.5: He had a busy evening and looked overwhelmed at times. The Turkish attackers targeted his side, and he struggled in his one-on-one duels. He committed three fouls, showing a bit of desperation in his defending. He did make a couple of important blocks and clearances, but it felt like he was just about keeping his head above water throughout the game.

Luka Lochoshvili - 5.0: He had a very difficult time before being substituted in the second half. He missed a big chance that could have changed the complexion of the game early on. Defensively, he was caught out of position and received a yellow card for a clumsy challenge. It just wasn't his day, and the substitution felt necessary to change things up.

Midfielders

Giorgi Kochorashvili - 7.5: What a workhorse in the middle of the park. From our perspective, he was one of Georgia's best players, constantly trying to drive his team forward. He won an incredible 11 duels and was a creative force, even creating a big chance. His energy was infectious, though he did pick up a yellow card. A very strong and combative performance.

Zuriko Davitashvili - 8.5: Our man of the match, without a doubt. He was absolutely electric. He scored a crucial goal to start the comeback and was a creative menace throughout, creating four chances for his teammates. His five successful dribbles show just how much trouble he caused the Turkish defence. An outstanding individual display full of heart and quality.

Anzor Mekvabishvili - 6.5: He provided the assist for one of the goals and was unlucky to hit the post himself. He was tidy in possession with a high pass accuracy. However, an error leading to a shot slightly blemishes his performance. He was a steady presence but lacked the dynamism of some of his midfield partners before being subbed off.

Giorgi Tsitaishvili - 5.0: A very quiet and ineffective first half led to him being substituted at halftime. He barely got involved in the play and lost possession too easily. It was a performance that just didn't click, and the manager made the right call to change things. He'll be disappointed with his contribution.

Attackers

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia - 7.5: He never stopped trying to make things happen. While he was marked tightly, he still managed to score a late goal that set up a frantic finish. He took four shots and was always a threat when he got on the ball. He lost possession a fair bit, but that's because he was constantly taking risks to create something for his team. A classic Kvara performance.

Georges Mikautadze - 5.5: A frustrating evening for the striker. He struggled to get involved in the game, managing very few touches. He was caught offside and picked up a yellow card, showing his frustration. He worked hard off the ball but couldn't make the impact he would have wanted. It was a difficult night against a physical Turkish backline.

Substitutes

Nika Gagnidze - 6.0: Came on at halftime and brought a bit more stability to the midfield.

Irakli Azarovi - 6.5: Looked lively after coming on and provided some attacking impetus down the flank.

Giorgi Guliashvili - N/A: Not enough time to make a significant impact.

Giorgi Gocholeishvili - N/A: A late change with little time to influence the game.

Manager

W. Sagnol - 6.5: His team started poorly and looked defensively frail. However, his second-half changes and the team's incredible fighting spirit reflect well on him. He managed to inspire a comeback that almost salvaged a point from a hopeless situation. The initial setup was questionable, but the in-game management was commendable.

Turkey Player Ratings vs Georgia

Here are our Turkey Player Ratings vs Georgia

Goalkeeper

Uğurcan Çakır - 6.0: He conceded two goals, but there wasn't much he could do about either of them. He made a couple of crucial saves, especially one late on to preserve the lead. His distribution was a bit shaky at times, losing possession more than you'd like. Overall, a mixed but ultimately successful outing for the keeper.

Defenders

Merih Demiral - 7.0: An absolute rock at the back for most of the game. His 15 clearances show just how many fires he put out. He was dominant in the air and made some crucial blocks. He was a key reason why Turkey were able to withstand the late Georgian pressure. A very solid, old-school defensive performance.

Eren Elmalı - 6.0: A steady, if unspectacular, performance at the back. He was solid enough defensively but got dribbled past a couple of times. He didn't offer a huge amount going forward but stuck to his task diligently. A decent shift without being a standout performer.

Abdülkerim Bardakcı - 5.5: He struggled to cope with Georgia's attackers, particularly in the second half. He made a massive 10 clearances but also lost most of his duels and looked shaky in possession. He was part of a defence that conceded twice and looked very nervy towards the end. Not his best game.

Mert Müldür - 7.5: He scored a fantastic opening goal to set the tone for his team. Beyond the goal, he was a defensive powerhouse, winning 9 duels and making 5 tackles. His energy down the right flank was a huge asset for Turkey. An all-action performance that he can be very proud of.

Midfielders

Arda Güler - 7.0: The wonderkid showed flashes of his incredible talent. He grabbed an assist and was always looking to create, playing a couple of key passes. He worked hard off the ball too. However, he also lost possession a few too many times and was dispossessed twice. A good, creative performance with room for improvement.

Hakan Çalhanoğlu - 6.0: The captain had a strangely quiet game by his high standards. He was tidy on the ball but failed to create any clear-cut chances. He got booked and was dribbled past twice, which was unlike him. From our perspective, it was an average performance where he didn't dictate the play as he normally does.

Kenan Yıldız - 6.5: He was a bundle of energy and won a lot of his duels. He was a willing runner and drew several fouls from the opposition. However, his final product was lacking, and he struggled to create anything significant in the attacking third. A hardworking but ultimately frustrating performance before he was subbed off.

İsmail Yüksek - 6.0: He had a solid first half before being substituted. He kept the ball moving and was positionally disciplined. He picked up a yellow card for a cynical foul. The manager's decision to replace him at halftime was tactical, but he didn't do much wrong during his time on the pitch.

Yunus Akgün - 7.0: He provided a crucial assist and was a key creative outlet for his team. He created two chances and was very tidy in possession. His defensive contribution was also notable, making a couple of clearances and interceptions. A very effective performance before being substituted in the second half.

Attackers

Kerem Aktürkoğlu - 8.0: A clinical and decisive performance from the forward. He scored two excellent goals that ultimately won his team the match. He was a constant threat with his movement and finishing. He did miss a big chance, but his two goals more than make up for it. A fantastic, goalscoring display.

Substitutes

Orkun Kökçü - 6.0: Came on and helped see the game out with some neat touches.

Oguz Aydin - N/A: Came on late and didn't have much time to get involved.

Baris Alper Yilmaz - 2.0: Came on and got a straight red card a few minutes later. A disastrous substitute appearance.

Ferdi Kadioglu - N/A: Not enough time to make an impact.

Irfan Can Kahveci - N/A: A very late substitute.

Manager

S. Şahin - 7.0: His team started the game perfectly, executing their game plan to race into a 3-0 lead. The tactics were spot on initially. However, his team's inability to control the game after the red card is a concern. He gets credit for the win, but the nervy finish will give him plenty to think about.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Kerem Aktürkoğlu