Georgian and Turkish national teams have held four matches against each other. The fifth match will take place in the city of Austria, Salzburg, on May 24. Two matches were held in Trabzon and two – in Tbilisi.
21.08.2002. Trabzon. Friendly
Turkey – Georgia 3:0 (1:0)
Goals: 1:0 Arif (8), 2:0 Cihan (51), 3:0 Nihat (71)
Before this match, Turkish team made a miracle at World Championship and took the third place. The hosts had advantage in Trabzon match. The team of Aleksandre Chivadze was preparing for the qualifying round of Euro-2004. After the match against Turkey, Georgians lost to Switzerland 1:4 in two weeks. The only thing which this match brought was return of Kakha Kaladze. Brother of Kakha – Levani was kidnapped (then killed) in 2001 – after this tragedy, Kaladze played home match against Italy and left the national team. After one year, he return in the match against Turkey.
4.09.2004. Trabzon. Qualifying of World Championship
Turkey - Georgia 1:1 (0:0)
Goals: 1:0 Fatih Teke (49), 1:1 Asatiani (85).
Sent-off: Hasan Sasi (58).
It was the first qualifying match and debut of Allain Giresse was held here. French coach started well – draw in Turkey. In the first half Otar Khizaneishvili kicked the ball and it touched goalpost. After break, Turkey scored goal: Fatih Teke scored goal with head.
Hasan Sasu betrayed the hosts when he received yellow card. At the 85th minute, Malkhaz Asatiani scored goal after the assist of Levan Tskitishvili. “Crusaders” gained point – 1:1.
30.03.2005. Tbilisi. Qualifying of World Championship
Georgia – Turkey 2:5 (1:3)
Goals: 0:1 Tolga (11), 1:1 Amisulashvili (13), 1:2, 1:3 Fatih Teke (20, 36), 2:3 Iashvili (39), 2:4 Korai Avci (72), 2:5 Tuncai (90).
Sent-off: Gogua (83).
Four days before this match, Georgians lost home match to Greece 1:3 and they almost did not have a chance to go through next round. The team of Giresse lacked several football players against Turkey. Besides that, Akaki Devadze had injury – at the 20th minute he was punched in the face, his jaw was broken and was taken to hospital.
Shota Arveladze did not play because he was booed in the match against Greece.
Turkey scored 5 goals – the team had many chances because Georgian defense did not play well. As for goals, both were scored after the assists of Gogita Gogua: Amisulashvili scored with head, Iashvili – with foot.
7.02.2007. Tbilisi. Friendly
Georgia – Turkey 1:0 (0:0)
Goal: Siradze (76).
It was a friendly match but in the last 10-15 minutes football players could not control themselves – Turkey did not want to lose and played roughly. Klaus Toppmoller, head coach of Georgians, was very happy after the match. He stated that Georgians found their play and it was right. But in the next matches, Georgians played with old style.
The only goal was scored at the 76th minute: after a corner kick, Gogua assisted Davit Siradze who scored goal with head.
2:0 against Scotland and 1:0 against Turkey – these are the best matches of Toppmoller’s team.
Ilia Nanobashvili
