Turkiye U16 2–1 Georgia U16
International Friendly | 6 June 2026, 23:00 CEST

Match Summary

Turkey’s U16 national team secured a 2-1 victory over Georgia in an entertaining international friendly. The young Turkish side showed resilience after conceding early, coming from behind to claim a well-deserved win. The match provided valuable minutes for developing players from both nations ahead of upcoming UEFA development tournaments.

First Half Drama

Georgia stunned the hosts by taking the lead inside the opening ten minutes. A well-worked corner found Giorgi Kvaratskhelia (no relation to the Napoli star), who headed home powerfully at the near post. However, Turkiye responded brilliantly. Midfielder Emirhan Yıldız levelled the score with a curling effort from the edge of the box after a neat one-two on the left flank.

Second Half Decider

The match remained evenly poised until the 58th minute when Turkiye’s captain Arda Güneş drove forward from midfield, exchanged passes with a striker, and slotted home with composure. The goal proved to be the winner, as Georgia pushed for an equaliser but found Turkish goalkeeper Burak Kaya in fine form, making three important saves in the final quarter.

Youth Development in Focus

Friendlies like this serve an important purpose in the international football calendar, allowing coaches to experiment with tactics and give young players exposure to competitive game situations. Both sides fielded several debutants, and the match demonstrated the promising talent emerging in both football nations. Turkey’s ability to fight back from a goal down will particularly encourage the coaching staff.

Key Stats

• Possession: Turkiye 54% – 46% Georgia
• Shots on target: Turkiye 6 – 4 Georgia
• Corners: Turkiye 5 – 3 Georgia
• Yellow cards: Turkiye 1 – 2 Georgia

Looking Ahead

This win adds to Turkiye U16’s positive build-up for the UEFA U16 International Tournament later in the year. For Georgia, the narrow defeat highlights areas to refine, particularly defending against quick transitions. Both teams will continue their friendly programmes in the coming weeks.