Spain vs Georgia LIVE RESULT – Euro 2024: La Roja into last 8 after Olmo, Williams, Fabian & Rodri complete turnaround
DANI OLMO, Nico Williams, Fabian Ruiz and Rodri struck as Spain completed a turnaround after a shock early own goal.
Spain had been piling on the pressure, but a quick Georgian counter saw Robin Le Normand turn into his own net for the match's opener.
La Roja, one of the pre-tournament favourites, had it all to do - but Man City star Rodri fired in a smart strike from the edge of the box to start the turn around and were then able to take control of the game.
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Spain 2-1 Georgia
51. Fabian Ruiz heads Spain in front for the first time!
Lamine Yamal was denied from the free-kick, his shot pushed out by Giorgi Mamardashvili.
But the 16-year-old quickly readjusted, refocused and pulled away into space on the right.
Seconds later, the ball arrived at his feet, and he delivered a delightful chip over to Ruiz at the far post, for the midfielder to head through Mamardashvili from point-blank range.
Fabulous Fabian
Spain 1-1 Georgia
50. Lamine Yamal is scythed down just outside of the penalty area, and Spain have a free-kick in a very dangerous position.
Spain 1-1 Georgia
48. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia from the halfway line!! Just wide!!
Incredible inventiveness and vision from the Georgian superstar, who intercepts a slack Spanish pass in the centre-circle and immediately unleashes a shot with Unai Simon off his line.
That would have been the moment of the tournament!
Kick-off - Spain 1-1 Georgia
46. There are no further changes to report as Georgia kick-off the second half, and it doesn't take Spain long to continue where they left off.
Within seconds of the restart, Morata backheels into the path of Ruiz, who drags a shot wide from 20 yards.
First half facts and figures
Extraordinary numbers in Cologne.
Spain had 15 more shots than Georgia in the first half, the joint-biggest difference in the first half of a game at the European Championship along with Netherlands versus Latvia in 2004.
Half-time - Spain 1-1 Georgia
Wow. What a game. What a scoreline.
As one-sided a match as you will see in knockout international football, and yet somehow the two nations are level at the break.
It's been sheer Spain dominance in Cologne, and La Roja were finally rewarded with a goal from Rodri shortly before the break.
And yet Georgia have looked so, so threatening on the counter, and you would not bet against them adding to the own goal scored by Robin Le Normand.
Spain 1-1 Georgia
45. Spain are threatening a second at the clock strikes 45 minutes.
A Yamal shot is charged down following successive corners, and that should be enough to see Georgia go in on level terms.
Spain 1-1 Georgia - Morata yellow card
44. Spain captain Alvaro Morata is the first player to go into the referee's book this evening.
The forward is a split-second late to a challenge with Luka Lochoshvili, catching the Cremonese defender on the ankle.
Morata throws his hands up in frustration as Francois Letexier throws his hands up in frustration.
Spain 1-1 Georgia - Georgia substitution
42. Willy Sagnol makes the change, sending Altunashvili into the action for the stricken Kiteishvili.
The Georgia head coach will be desperate to get his team in for half-time without any further damage.
Spain 1-1 Georgia
41. It looks like being a double blow for Georgia.
Otar Kiteishvili went down immediately after his team conceded, and it doesn't appear as though he's going to be able to continue.
Sandro Altunashvili is warming up along the touchline.
Spain 1-1 Georgia
39. Spain turn to the big man for the big moments!
During another intense spell of pressure, Nico Williams picks out Rodri in the D with a precise pass.
The Manchester City midfielder takes a delicate first touch with his right foot to cushion the ball before arrowing a second with his left through the legs of a defender and into the bottom far corner.
Giorgi Mamardashvili had no chance in the Georgia goal, and Spain are level.
Finally!
Spain 0-1 Georgia
36. Spain bring up their 15th shot of the game while Georgia have had just one.
One, coincidentally, is also the amount of touches that Georgia have managed in the Spain penalty area.
Spain 0-1 Georgia
34. Cucurella equalises! No, it's a superb save from Mamardashvili!
The Chelsea left-back arrowed a beautiful 25-yarder that looked destined for the bottom corner until the Georgia goalkeeper appeared from nowhere to turn away.
Spain 0-1 Georgia
32. Kashia blocks another strike, this time to deny Yamal, a player less than half his age.
The Georgia defensive rearguard continues, but - weirdly - you get the feeling that they are loving this. Thriving off it.
Spain 0-1 Georgia
30. Referee Francois Letexier is perfecting is waving players up from the floor technique.
First he gets some practice in with Pedri, and then does so again with Georgia asking for a penalty.
On the break, Georges Mikautadze bursts into the box, and goes down when Robin Le Normand hangs out a foot.
There is contact, but no doubt the forward was looking for it.
Spain 0-1 Georgia
28. The fascinating thing is Georgia do look dangerous on those very rare occasions that they get the ball.
Out of possession though, they settle quickly into a 5-3-1-1 shape and a block so low it would be a struggle for a limbo dancer.
Spain 0-1 Georgia
26. Kashia blocks a Rodri shot before Morata is flagged offside to bring some momentary relief.
The Georgians are not afraid of putting their bodies on the line.
Spain 0-1 Georgia
24. Spain have had ten attempts at goal so far, and have dominated more than 80% of the ball.
Georgia lead despite not having registered a shot.
Football, hey?
Spain 0-1 Georgia
22. Fabian Ruiz is taken charge when confronted with a sight of goal.
The PSG midfielder has not been afraid to have a pop and does so again here, forcing another save from Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Spain 0-1 Georgia
20. The game has immediately reverted to a game of Spanish attack against Georgian defence.
Can this Georgia team regain their composure after the exhilaration of opening the scoring?
Spain 0-1 Georgia
18. Unbelievable scenes in Cologne!
There's against the run of play and then there's this!
After 18 minutes of having their backs to the wall inside their own penalty area, Georgia have broken and taken the lead with their first attack.
Otar Kakabadze is sent into space down the right flank, and his teasing cross towards Khvicha Kvaratskhelia at the far post is chested back beyond Unai Simon and into his own net by Robin Le Normand.
The Spanish defender has a stunned look upon his face - and so does the rest of his country.
OH MY GOD!
Spain 0-0 Georgia
15. Laporte gets his head on Spain's latest corner, but his downward effort at the back post is deflected behind Dvali.
It should be another corner, but the referee is clearly tired of pointing in that direction and awards a goalkick.
