Clearly still buoyed from their 6-1 win over Bulgaria on Saturday, Turkey came out of the blocks with real purpose and took the lead with 16 minutes on the clock.
A ball over the top by Abdülkerim Bardakcı found Kenan Yıldız, who held off the challenge of Otar Kakabadze before dinking the ball over Giorgi Mamardashvili.
The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but a VAR check determined that the forward had timed his run to perfection, and the decision was overturned to the delight of the home fans.
With Yıldız unbeaten in nine previous goalscoring appearances for club and country, the omens were already good for Turkey – and they got even better just six minutes later, as Demiral rose highest to head home at the near post from Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s corner.
By contrast, Georgia looked nothing like the side that had reached Euro 2024’s last 16 against all odds, and Turkey were then able to ensure a 3-0 half-time lead when Yıldız broke into the area and pulled the ball back to Arda Güler.
His goal-bound effort was blocked on the line, but the rebound fell to Yunus Akgün, who made no mistake from a matter of yards.
With this now being the ninth Turkey game in 11 to see over 2.5 goals registered, the high-scoring character of the first half wasn’t much of a surprise.
But the one-sided nature certainly was for a stunned Georgia, and the hosts only had to wait until seven minutes after the restart to find a fourth goal as Demiral nodded home from close range for his second of the evening.
The away side competed far better in the second half, and a consolation goal from Giorgi Kochorashvili – who converted after picking up an audacious pass from Otar Kiteishvili, in what was the latter’s last touch of the evening – gave the travelling fans something to cheer about.
But Turkey were content to drop into a low block to preserve their three-goal lead, and in turn, it was the home supporters who were celebrating come the final whistle.
With Georgia never looking likely to reduce the deficit any further, they ultimately faded away to a seventh defeat in their last 10 outings on the road.
The result sees Turkey move six points clear of tonight’s vanquished opponents with only two group games remaining, and with the Crescent-Stars’ goal difference being far superior, the Crusaders’ hopes of a play-off spot appear to be all but over after this costly and bruising defeat.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Merih Demiral (Turkey)
