Georgian national football team held 89 minutes so that they could not score goal. In this case, scoreless draw would have been perfect result but Levan Kobiashvili made the result more perfect. Perhaps, it will not be overrated to say that after European triumph of “Dinamo” Tbilisi in 1981, Georgians have not been so happy. Winning over Croatia which is in the 8th place at world ranking, “eclipsed” all previous success.
The team of Temur Ketsbaia did not lose this time too and “Jvarosnebi” (Crusaders) held the 10th unbeaten match in a row. This match has another hero of the day – Croatian head coach Slaven Bilic. His team was holding the 50th match with his supremacy.
The guests arrived here for winning the match and substitutions made by Bilic proved that. But first, let us talk about the choice of Ketsbaia.
Defense line from left to right – Salukvadze, Khubutia, Amisulashvili, Kaladze. Khizanishvili played in midfield. Daushvili was central midfielder and Kankava was playmaker. Kobiashvili played on left wing of midfield and Iashvili – on right wing. Daushvili was the only forward.
Bilic started the match with 4-4-1-1 scheme but when he guessed that he could do nothing against Georgians’ defense he sent three forwards to the pitch. Srna, Corluka, Lovren and Strinic played in defense. Modric played in front midfield and Dujmovic – in back midfield. Rakitic was on right wing of midfield and Kranjcar – on left wing. Petric helped forward Kalinic. But when Croatians could not reach their goal Bilic substituted Kranjcar with forward Jelavic. 7-8 minutes before the final whistle, Bilic substituted Petric with Pranjic, player of “Bayern” Munich”, and told him to play close to the goal of Georgians.
The reason of this sensational success of Georgians was their continual and reasonable movement which brought them 3 points. Jaba Kankava held his best team match. Zurab Khizanishvili made mistakes while making assists but he shot 3 times toward the goal of the opponent. At first, it happened at the 73rd minute when after corner kick of Kobiashvili he changed the direction of the ball with head but missed it. After three minutes, Gogua took a free kick. Then Khizanishvili shot the ball but missed it. At last, defender of “Reading” tried to shoot from 40 meters but still unsuccessfully.
It is obvious that Otar Martsvaladze justified the most from 3 substitutions of Ketsbaia. Siradze could not play the way he does and was less active than Dvalishvili. If Gogua had had more playing time, perhaps, Georgians could have made more attacks. When Gogua started playing Kobiashvili moved to the middle of midfield and after this he scored goal which made Georgians happy.
10 minutes before the goal, Martsvaladze made such solo raid toward the goal of the guests which was worth of goal. Otar showed his individualism at the end of the match – he received assist of his teammate at the left corner of Croatians’ penalty area and then assisted it to Kobiashvili. Kobiashvili shot the ball. Goalkeeper expected it at the left corner and dived but – 1:0. It was the most important goal of Kobiashvili in his team career.
The referee added 3 minutes. It was the hardest three minutes for Georgian defense and goalkeeper. Croatian played actively in penalty area of “Jvarosnebi”. Danijel Pranjic was close to scoring goal but Georgian goalkeeper Nukri Revishvili parried it and then threw on corner.
Georgian national football team did not lose 10 matches in a row (5 Euro-2012 qualifying matches). The team of Temur Ketsbaia will hold the next match in Israel on March 29. The feeling when you are considered as a favorite while holding an away match is the best.
Tbilisi. March 26, 2011. “Boris Paichadze”, 55 000 spectators. 21:00
Georgia– Croatia 1:0 (0:0)
Georgia: Revishvili, Salukvadze, Khubutia, Amisulashvili, Kaladze (cap), Khizanishvili, Kankava, Daushvili (Gogua, 73), Iashvili (Martsvaladze, 62), Kobiashvili, Dvalishvili (Siradze, 46).
Reserves: Loria, Kashia, Aladashvili, Kvirkvelia.
Head coach: Temur Ketsbaia.
Croatia: Runje, Srna (cap), Lovren, Corluka, Strinic, Rakitic (Perisic, 61), Dujmovic, Modric, Kranjcar (Jelavic, 70), Petric (Pranjic, 84), Kalinic.
Reserves: Pletikosa, Simunic, Vukojevic, Mandzukic.
Head coach: Slaven Bilic.
Yellow cards: Dujmovic (52), Kranjcar (65), Martsvaladze (71).
Goal: 1:0 Kobiashvili (90).
Referees: Paolo Taliavento; Luka Majiani, Nicola Nicoleti; Paolo Valeri (Italy).
Shots in goal – 1-6; shots toward goal – 5-8; corner kick – 2-9; free kick – 10-18.
Tournament situation in Group F
| Teams | M | W | D | L | B | P | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Greece | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5:2 | 11 |
| 2. | Croatia | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8:2 | 10 |
| 3. | Georgia | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4:2 | 9 |
| 4. | Israel | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7:6 | 7 |
| 5. | Latvia | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4:7 | 4 |
| 6. | Malta | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1:10 | 0 |
Phridon Kervalishvili
