Portugal beat Georgia 4-0 to top Group C at the 2025 UEFA European U21 Championship | OneFootball

Portugal consolidated top spot at the 2025 UEFA European U21 Championship after a comfortable 4-0 win against Georgia at Stadion Sihot in Trencin.

Georgia’s chances were dealt a serious blow in the 5th minute when Lasha Odisharia was shown a straight red card following a late challenge on Flávio Nazinho.

The Equipa das Quinas took the lead in the 24th minute when Rodrigo Pinheiro’s shot slipped through Luka Kharatishvili’s fingers.Gustavo Sá came off the bench in the 61st minute and assisted Geovany Quenda within 60 seconds of being introduced.

Rodrigo Gomes hit the post in the 86th minute but immediately made amends, converting at the back post after Sá headed João Marques’ corner in his direction.

Portugal made it 4-0 from the penalty spot in added time, Sá brought down by Irakli Iakobidze with Henrique Araújo making no mistake.

Rui Jorge’s side finish top of Group C, setting up a quarter-final clash in Zilina on Saturday 21 June, Ukraine or Netherlands the most likely opponents.

Portugal 4-0 Georgia

Georgia got off to a horror start following Lasha Odisharia’s late challenge on Flávio Nazinho. Referee Elchin Masiyev watched replays on the touchline monitor, returning to the pitch in the 5th minute and showing Odisharia a straight red card.

Irakli Azarov’s low drive was tipped wide by Samuel Soares but Portugal soon took control. Roger Fernandes’ shot was deflected over the bar before the breakthrough came in the 24th minute.

Rodrigo Pinheiro played a 1-2 with Geovany Quenda and got to the byline, the right-back firing a weak shot that slipped through Luka Kharatishvili hands and nestled in the net.

Flávio Nazinho saw his shot deflected for a corner, Paulo Bernardo forced a save from Kharatishvili and Quenda flashed an effort across the face of goal as the chances kept coming.

Roger made way for Mathias De Amorim at the break, Giorgi Kvernadze and Gizo Mamageishvili booked in quick succession as Georgia’s frustrations were clear to see.

Jorge’s half time switch had failed to produce any positive outcomes so he made another substitution in the 61st minute, bringing on Gustavo Sá for Mateus Fernandes.

Less than 60 seconds after being introduced Sá played an important role in Portugal doubling their advantage. He received the ball from Quenda and returned the favour, Quenda going through on goal and squeezing it past Kharatishvili.

Tiago Tomás made way for Henrique Araújo in the 67th as the game turned into a walk in the park. Quenda picked up a knock and made way for Rodrigo Gomes in the 81st minute, Jorge using the opportunity to bring on João Marques for Paulo Bernardo.

Gomes hit the post five minutes later after being played in by Araújo but the substitute immediately made amends. Marques’ corner was headed towards the back post by Sá and Gomes simply couldn’t miss.

Araújo dragged a presentable chance wide after some nice work from Gomes and Marques went close, but Portugal kept pressing and made it 4-0 from the penalty spot deep into added time.

Sá was brought down by an exhausted Irakli Iakobidze, Araújo stepping up and casually converting the spot kick.

Job done

Lasha Odisharia’s 5th minute dismissal effectively ended Georgia’s chances of beating Portugal and snatching a spot in the quarter-finals. It was a disappointing exit for Ramaz Svanadze’s side who had done themselves proud in Slovakia.

Portugal produced a professional performance against a packed defence, taking a 1-0 lead into half-time and Geovany Quenda’s third goal in the competition putting the result beyond doubt with 30 minutes remaining.

Georgia were always going to struggle physically in the closing stages and so it proved, two late goals adding some shine to the victory.

Portugal are playing with confidence, haven't conceded a goal in Slovakia and scoring nine goals in two games will surely add to the positivity. Rui Jorge possesses a deep squad, plenty of weapons off the bench and Geovany Quenda, surely one of the best players at the tournament.

Força.

Match reaction

Paulo Bernardo: “It wasn't an easy game. Georgia worked very hard defensively, so I'm very happy we managed to score four and it was a great result for us. We are a great group with great players who can make a difference in games. We are confident, and our objective is obviously to win our quarter-final.

“(Geovany Quenda) is very talented and is showing that. I hope he can continue playing in this way, because he really helps the team. We're doing our job and we'll let the other people think about whether we are favourites or not. We are here to compete and we want to keep going.”

Henrique Araújo: “We are really happy because our first goal was to progress past the group stage and we did it excellently, scoring lots of goals and with zero conceded. Almost all the players in the squad have got some minutes, and we feel the confidence growing.

“Georgia are a good team. They were strong in defence, with lots of players behind the line of the ball, and we did really well against their low block. We are confident about the quarter-finals because we have lots of quality, but we know we will face another good team, and let's wait and see who we get. Any team who qualifies deserves to be there.”

By Matthew Marshall at Stadion Sihot

Line Ups

Portugal (4-3-3): Samuel Soares; Rodrigo Pinheiro, Chico Lamba, João Muniz, Flávio Nazinho; Diogo Nascimento, Paulo Bernardo (João Marques 81’), Mateus Fernandes (Gustavo Sá 61’); Geovany Quenda (Rodrigo Gomes 81’), Tiago Tomás (Henrique Araújo 67’), Roger Fernandes (Mathias De Amorim 46’)

Unused substitutes: João Carvalho, Diogo Pinto, Christian Marques, Lourenço Figueiredo, Rafael Rodrigues, Pedro Santos, Carlos Forbs

Georgia (4-3-3): Luka Kharatishvili; Giorgi Maisuradze, Irakli Iakobidze, Saba Khvadagiani, Irakli Azarov (Saba Mamatsashvili 67’); Gizo Mamageishvili (Irakli Yegoian 67’), Nodar Lominadze, Otar Mamageishvili (Tornike Morchiladze 85’); Lasha Odisharia, Giorgi Kvernadze, Giorgi Abuashvili (Vakho Bedoshvili 51’)

Unused substitutes: Mikheil Makatsaria, Levan Tandilashvili, Saba Sazonov, Lado Odishvili, Levan Osikmashvili, Gabriel Sigua, Luka Gagnidze, Vasilios Gordeziani

Goals