It is difficult to remember when so many Georgian VIP guests attended away match of “Jvarosnebi” (Crusaders). Numerous Georgian officials (Gigi Ugulava, Gia Natsvlishvili, Zaza Gorozia, Davit Namgalauri, Lado Vardzelashvili, Davit Tkeshelashvili) and about 1000 fans were at the stadium and Jewish-Georgian match was held almost in native environment.
Georgians started the match nervously. The hosts advanced at the beginning. They counted on Elyaniv Barda who was helped by Rafaelov and Kiyal.
As for attack line of Ketsbaia, it was not difficult to guess – playing carefully in defense, sparring in the middle and Martsvaladze in attack.
Soon, “Jvarosnebi” calmed down. Activeness of the hosts was more ostentatious and they did not want to make mistakes. That is why, goalkeeper of “Mallorca” and Israeli national team had nothing to do in the first half. Buzaglo attacked Georgians twice but Revishvili parried them easily. At the 17th minute, Natkho took a free kick, then Gershon shot the ball with head and Revishvili parried it on corner.
Georgians shot the ball toward their opponents’ goal at the 19th minute. Jaba Kankava shot it from 25 meters but missed it. Soon after, Gershon attacked Georgians. Revishvili did not let him kick the ball and Gershon assisted Kiyal who shot the ball but Amisulashvili parried the ball.
Georgians advanced at the end of the half. Kobiashvili had a real chance to kick the ball toward the goal but he could not catch the ball assisted by Iashvili.
While the break, Ketsbaia substituted Daushvili with Davit Kvirkvelia and playing scheme of the team changed. Kobiashvili started playing in the center and Kvirkvelia took his place. Martsvaladze played more actively. Soon, he aimed the ball toward the goal of the opponent but missed it. Soon after, Buzaglo kicked the ball but missed.
Georgians made that fatal mistake which caused the first loss of Georgians after 10 unbeaten match series. Israeli team attacked Georgians quickly. Salukvadze made mistake, Tal Ben Haim used it and celebrated his debut in the national team with goal. By the way, Israel has the second Tal Ben Haim in the national team. He is central defender and plays for English “Portsmouth”. Hero of the match and Fernandez is forward of “Maccabi” Petah Tikva.
Vladimir Dvalishvili managed to calm down the hosts after the goal but Georgian forward hurried. He shot the ball in empty goal but missed it. It happened at the 71st minute and after that, Georgians did not have real chance to equalize the score. It does not need to prove that Israel is not Croatia or Greece. It is a pity to lose against average level team after beating favorite Croatia.
After the match
Temur Ketsbaia (head coach of Georgian national football team): “Unlike the first half, both teams played better in the second one and spectators did not watch a bad match. Unfortunately, we made a fatal mistake. It seems that we are not able to hold two matches in a row on a high level. We are not that team which can always play without loss.
We were planning to take 3 points before summer. We fulfilled our plan in the first match. One match is left in June. We will play against Croatia and we will try not to disgrace ourselves”.
Zurab Khizanishvili: “After the match against Croatia, we were in a good mood but unfortunately, we lost. This is football. We will do everything to show better results in upcoming matches”.
Kakha Kaladze: “We should not have lost this match. I think the team played well, especially in the second half. When we started playing better we were scored goal. We should not be disappointed. Nothing is lost yet. We have to hold more important matches”.
Euro qualifying match 2012.
Tel Aviv. March 29, 2011. “Bloomfield”, 14 000 spectators. 21:05
Israel – Georgia 1:0 (0:0)
Israel: Aouate (cap), Keinan, Gershon, Bondar, Ben Haim, Almog Cohen, Kiyal, Natkho (Ben Haim, 53), Rafaelov (Vermuth, 63), Buzaglo, Barda (Benayoun, 72).
Substitutes: Goresh, Twatiha, Alberman, Sahar.
Head coach: Luis Fernandez
Georgia: Revishvili, Salukvadze, Khubutia, Amisulashvili, Kaladze (cap), Khizanishvili, Kankava, Daushvili (Kvirkvelia, 46), Iashvili (Dvalishvili, 64), Kobiashvili, Martsvaladze (Siradze, 73).
Substitutes: Loria, Kashia, Aladashvili, Gelashvili.
Head coach: Temur Ketsbaia
Yellow cards: Amisulashvili (43), Martsvaladze (45), Cohen (62), Bondar (76), Kobiashvili (89).
Goal: 1:0 Ben Haim (59).
Referees: Freddy Fotrel; Freddy Harchai, Loren Stin; Rudy Boku (France).
Group F
Greece 5 3 2 0 5-2 11
Croatia 5 3 1 1 8-2 10
Israel 6 3 1 2 8-6 10
Georgia 6 2 3 1 4-3 9
Latvia 5 1 1 3 4-7 4
Malta 5 0 0 5 1-10 0
Phridon Kervalishvili from Tel Aviv
