Georgian National Football Team won over Armenian National Team at “Tsirion” stadium (2:1) in the city of Cyprus, Limassol. Since March 3, “Crusanders” has not lost 9 matches, which is improvment of record set 13 years ago. “Dinamo” Tbilisi and “Ararat” Yerevan always were rivals of principle and now Georgian and Armenian National teams and that’s why winning this match had regional importance.
This match was the last sparring match for Georgian National Team before starting qualifying round of European 2012 Championship. Temur Ketsbaia head coach of Georgian National Team could not manage to gather optimal staff but he saw opportunities of those players who participated in this match.
Both of halves started in the same way for Georgians. Armenians were attacking and in the second half they kicked so many times in direction of Georgian goal that if they were high class players would score many times. Ketsbaia checked team as it was possible in this match before the matches against Croatia (March 26) and Israel (March 29).
None of players who appeared on the field in the second half played well (that’s why they were in reserve). Defense line had problems after leaving Kaladze, duet of Amisulashvili and Khubutia was not reliable. That’s why opponent team was attacking so many times.
It can be said that Murtaz Daushvili is good discovery for Georgian team. He proved his possibilities in this match, especially in playing against Genrikh Mkhitaryan, who kicked many times in direction of Georgian goal.
As for the first goal, Zurab Khizanishvili started attack, Kobiashvili continued and finally Aleksander Iashvili scored – 1:0.
Jano Ananidze the most active player in this match played big role in scoring the second goal after assist of Iashvili. After entering in penalty area Ananidze could not manage to kick and assisted back to Kobiashvili, he kicked well but the ball touched to defender, finally Siradze managed to score – 2:0.
Both of goalkeepers sweated much in this match. But Revishvili could not manage to parry out penalty kick of Manucharyan – 2:1. The penalty kick was set due to Kvirkvelia fouled against Mkhitaryan.
At 82nd minutes Georgians attacked, Ananidze kicked in direction of rival’s goal but defender parried it out. At the same minute, Siradze assisted to Ananidze, he tried to score but this time Ksaparov saved the situation easily.
According to FIFA Coca- Cola rating Georgian National Team is on the 71st place and Armenia keeps the 62nd place, in spite of this rating the winner of this match is Georgian team.
International Friendly Match. Limassol, February 9, 2011. “Tsirion”
Georgia- Armenia 2:1 (2:0)
Georgia(71):Loria(Revishvili, 46), Salukvadze, Kaladze (cap) (Amisulashvli, 46), Khubutia, Khizanishvili (Kakubava, 57), Daushvili, Gogua (Vatsadze, 46), Kobiashvili (Kvirkvelia, 46), Iashvili (Merebashvili, 50), Ananidze, Siradze.
Reserves:Kashia, Kankava.
Head coaches: Temur Ketsbaia.
Armenia(62): Kasparov, Mkoyan, Arakelyan (Iuspashyan, 46), Hovsetyan (cap), Airapetyan, Edigaryan, Mkhitaryan, Pissali, Manucharyan (Art.Aleksanyan, 85), Kazaryan, Malakyan.
Head coach:Vardan Minasyan.
Yellow cards:Khubutia(31), Kvirkvelia (62), Revishvili (80), Manucharyan (80), Mkhitaryan(88).
Goals:1:0 Iashvili(22), 2:0 Siradze (34), 2:1 Manucharyan (62, penalty kick).
Coach:Anastasi Gianisi(Cyprus)
Phridon Kervalishvili
