2:1- three times in a row, Georgian national football team wins the first match of year with this score. Two years ago with Estonia, last year with Armenia and this time with Albania. The match held at “Mikheil Meskhi” appeared tense. It is positive, that Georgian team changed tactic in the second half and managed to take superiority over the rival. In some moments “Cursanders” look liked well and were aggressive in offence. It is pleasant that Levan Kenia participated in this match. As for a weak point in this match it was confusion, often mistakes in the first half and none-managing of scoring penalty kicks… it is worth mentioning that in two last sparring match Georgians kicked four penalties and managed to score only one.
As for the main staff: Goalkeeper-Revishvili; defenders – Kashia, Khizanishvili, Amisulashvili, Grigalava; midfielders- Kankava and Daushvili; striker – Ananidze, wings- Targamadze and Kobakhidze as for centre-forward, Dvalishvili played in this position.
At the 3rd minute Khizanishvili assisted badly in his penalty area, Edgar Cani won the ball, run for 15-20 meters and scored -1:0. By the way, Cani and Dvalishvili are teammates in “Polonia” and it is his first goal for national team. Tbilisi hosted Georgia-Albania match the fifth times and Albanians managed to score goal first times.
The only distinguished moment from Georgian side was at the 7th minute, when Targamadze kicked in direction to rival’s goal, but the goalkeeper saved the situation. At the 29th minute, Dvalishvili had a chance to score goal when a penalty was awarded at the 29th minute. He took a penalty kick but Albanian goalkeeper parried it.
Besides this nothing else happened in the first half…
After time-out, Ketsbaia strengthened offensive line. Daushvili was substituted by Gelashvili, Kobakhidze started playing as central midfielder and instructed forward of “Bochumi” to offend from the left side. In fact, national team started playing with two strikers, because in comparison with Kobakhidze, Gelashvili was playing as forward than as midfielder. More productive Kvirkvelia replaced Grigalava in the position of left defender. At the 48th minute Georgians equalized: Targamadze started attack from the wing, assisted to Kobakhidze standing in rival’s penalty area, this assist confused Albanian defenders, Kobakhidze strongly kicked and equalized – 1:1.
Georgians gained superiority and activated.
The second half was more spectacular: Dvalishvili and Khizanishvili tried to score, as for Albanians, they had problems in assisting.
At the 65th minute, fans started yelling “Kenia, Kenia”. 21-year-old talented midfielder substituted Ananidze. Since 2009 October Kenia has played neither for national team nor for club and finally Levan returned. It goes without saying that he is too far from optimal condition and that’s why no one expected something special from him against Albania. But it is remarkable fact that he returned.
As for the second goal, after missing penalty kick by Targamadze, at the 87th minute Aleko Amisulashvili scored goal of victory. It is his second goal for national team, in 2005 he scored against Turkey (2:5).
It is difficult to name played of the match, but it really can be said that Kobakhidze was the most distinguished in this match: scored goal and awarded penalty kick. In total, Albanian goalkeeper Samir Ujkani was player of the match, he parried two penalty kicks in this match.
February 29. 18:00. Tbilisi. "Mikheil Meskhi". 17000 spectators
Georgia-Albania 2:1 (0:1)
Georgia: Revishvili, Kashia, Khizanishvili, Amisulashvili, Grigalava (Kvirkvelia 46), Daushvili (Gelashvili 46), Kankava (Dzaria 90+2), Ananidze (Kenia 74), Targamadze (Grigalashvili 89), Kobakhidze, Dvalishvili (Martsvaladze 60).
Head coach: Temur Ketsbaia.
Albania: Ujkani (Shehi 88), Lila, Dallku, Veliu (Osmani 88), Agolli, Bulku (Bakaj 70), Hyka (Zeqiri 57), Muzaka (Sadiku 80), Roshi, Çani (Januzi 82).
Head coach: Gianni De Biasi.
Goals: 0:1 Cani (3), 1:1 Kobakhidze (48), 2:1 Amisulashvili (87).
At the 29th minute Dvalishvili missed penalty (golakeeper).
At the 87th minute Targamadze missed penalty (goalkeeper).
Yellow-cards: Bulku (53), Ujkani (67), Agolli (74), Ujkani (87), Kankava (88), Kvirkvelia (90).
Referee: Genady Sidenko (Moldova).
Ilia Nanobashvili
