The long-range goals continued to rain in at Euros 2024 as the first round of group matches was completed with two gripping matches.

Portugal came from behind to beat Czech Republic 2-1 while Turkey overcame Georgia in the game of the tournament so far.

Three of the goals on Tuesday came from outside the area. That’s now 11 from outside the box at the tournament – only one fewer than the entire group stage at the previous Euros tournament.

Just as it seemed Cristiano Ronaldo would be frustrated on his record-breaking appearance in a sixth European Championship tournament, Portugal snatched a late victory against a determined Czech Republic.

Two late substitutes combined for the winner in Leipzig. Pedro Neto cut in on the left and Francisco Conceicao, with his first touch , stabbed in after a deflection wrong-footed Czech defender Robin Hranac.

Lukas Provod had curled home from the edge of the area just after the hour mark to give the Czechs a shock lead with their only big chance.

Portugal levelled soon after when Nuno Mendes’ header was parried by Czech keeper Jindrich Stanek into the knee of the unfortunate Hranac, from which it rebounded into goal.

After a Diego Jota goal was chalked off for offside it seemed the Czechs would hold out but Conceicao had the last word.

Earlier on Tuesday, Turkey manager Vincenzo Montella toasted the best possible 50th birthday present following a thrilling 3-1 win over tournament debutants Georgia.

Spectacular strikes from Mert Muldur and Arda Guler, either side of Georges Mikautadze’s equaliser, helped settle an engrossing Group F encounter against the tournament debutants in Dortmund.

Yet Turkey survived a major scare as tenacious Georgia twice struck the woodwork and also wasted a golden chance to level before Kerem Akturkoglu put the result beyond doubt at the death with a breakaway goal with Georgia’s goal keeper up for a corner.

They might live to rue that tactical decision with goal difference likely to come into play with four third-placed teams advancing to the finals.

“It was a match worthy of the finals,” said Italian Montella, whose side were heavily backed on the terraces at Westfalenstadion.

“I’m turning 50 today so this was the best present I could have received.”

This was a nation-stopping moment for Georgia, a South Caucasus country of 3.7 million people that is making a debut in an international tournament since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, amid protests and political turmoil back home.

At No.75 the lowest-ranked nation at Euro 2024, Georgia could easily have snatched a point from a game played at a frenetic pace.

Giorgi Kochorashvili hit the crossbar and later fired wide in added time before captain Guram Kashia headed against a post during a frantic finish.

Guler, nicknamed the Turkish Messi, is 19 years and 114 days old, making him the fifth youngest scorer at a Euros and beating Ronaldo’s debut scoring mark by 14 days.

“My dreams have not come true yet, only a few of them,” Guler said after claiming the man of the match award.

(With DPA)