Team of Temur Ketsbaia held the 3rd international match and did not lose again. 1 won and 2 draw - it is a balance of a new coach. It will be good for footballers and fans if it will increase into official success. It was the 9th match with Moldova. Georgians won 3 matches, Moldovans - 4 and 2 matches finished draw (ball difference 12:11 in the favour of Georgia).
It is doubtless that this match is important for competitors for selective round of European Championship 2012 which will start in September. Ketsbaia let all footballers play in this match, except reserve goalkeeper. Which other match do you remember with so many defensive center changes?
Asatiani and Amisulashvili played in the first half. While the break Amisulashvili was replaced by Kaladze in defensive center because of injury. Kaladze was controlling left wing of defense before. After 20 minutes, Asatiani was replaced by Salukvadze and the match should be ended with Kaladze-Salukvadze duet but Lobjanidze who was playing on right wing of defense during 73 minutes was sent off after the second yellow card by Ukrainian referee. Salukvadze had to take his place. As for a "new" partner of Kaladze, it was midfielder Khizanishvili.
Besides that, midfielders Gogua and Iashvili often changed their places as well as Kobiashvili. Considering all this, the result was not so bad (0:0 in the match with competitor which is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its football and wants to finish the celebration with victory).
The most memorable moment in the first half was Georgians combination at the 41st minute. Davit Siradze left the pass of Malkhaz Asatiani from the center of the field to Aleksandre Iashvili and captain of "Karlsruhe" shot it between goalposts but Stanislav Namashko caught it.
Attacks of the hosts mostly were started from right wing and ended with pass of Bordiani in the penalty area. But Loria from Tbilisi "Dinamo" played well.
Georgians started the second half quite actively. Temur Ketsbaia made the mentioned changes from time to time but it did not work negatively for Georgians. Nika Gelashvili made the best chance to score a goal. Ketsbaia found the place for forward of "Zestaponi" on right wing of midfield. Gelashvili was attacking the door of Namashko at the 63rd minute of the match. But Moldovan goalkeeper managed to parry the ball and Georgians could not reach it to kick again.
According to all this, the hosts should have won the friendly match. Loria was controlling the shot of Chebotar at the 75h minute and threw it out of field. 2 minutes before the final whistle, goalkeeper of "Dinamo" made a very effective "save". Loria caught ball shot by Dorosh.
It felt like Ukrainian referee was not going to finish the match until the first goal of Moldovans. After 90 minutes, when the 6th added time was finishing, the referee remembered to whistle and the match finished 0:0. This match was last rehearsal for Georgians before the start of a new selective round. Everything finished well. On September 3 Georgia will visit Greeks and on September 7 they will host Israel. Maybe this is that successful start which will take Georgians to light of tunnel. Good start is important...


Kishinov. August 11, 2010. "Zimbru"
Moldova - Georgia 0:0
Moldova: Namashko, Bordyan, Belgaru, Raku, Zmeu (Kojokar, 66), Tsigirlash, Borets (captain), Josan (Dorosh), Chebodat, Bugailov (Frunza, 46), Andronik (Suvorov, 61).
Head coach: Gabi Balint
Georgia: Loria, Lobjanidze, Amisulashvili (Gelashvili, 46), Asatiani (Salukvadze, 69), Kaladze (captain), Gogua (Aptsiauri, 64), Khizanishvili, Kobiashvili, Iashvili (Kvirkvelia, 46), Siradze (Merebashvili, 56), Dvalishvili (Koshkadze, 78).
Head coach: Temur Ketsbaia
Yellow cards: Gogua (22), Raku (57), Lobjanidze (59), Frunza (64), Lobjanidze (74), Khizanishvili (83)
Sending off: Lobjanidze (74)
Referees: Viktor Shvetsov, Aleksandr Voitiuk, Stanislav Boklaiko (all of them are Ukrainians).

Phridon Kervalishvili