“Metallurg” Rustavi overcame the first qualifying stage of Europa League and the club will play against Kazakh “Irtysh”. We expected better playing from “Metallurg” but the club looked better in Yerevan than in Rustavi. Head coach Armaz Jeladze mentioned this fact too.
The match ended up 1:1 on “Poladi” stadium. If Armenians had scored one more goal, everything would have ended up badly. “Metallurg” is better club than “Banants” and Armenian coach mentioned it too.
At the 18th minute, Giorgi Mikaberidze, midfielder of “Metallurg”, scored the first goal. Soon, he was substituted due to injury. At the 72nd minute, Brazilian legionary of “Banants” Du Bala scored penalty and equalized.
After the match:
Rafael Nazaryan: “I congratulate our opponent on going through the next stage. “Metallurg” is an experienced team. “Banants” is a young club. Four our players were born in 1992. Also, we were tired but we held the second half better”.
Armaz Jeladze: “We started match badly but soon we scored goal. We went through the next stage but if we play this way against “Irtysh” we will find it difficult to beat our opponent. The Rustavi club has held two matches against the Kazakh clubs and lost both matches. We will try to abolish this tradition”.
I qualifying stage of Europa League
7.07.2011. 17:00. Rustavi. “Poladi”. 2500 spectators
“Metallurg” (Rustavi) – “Banants” (Yerevan) 1:1 (1:0)
Metalurg: Batiashvili, Kvakhadze (c), Japaridze, Makhviladze, Orbeladze, Razmadze, Maisuradze, Getsadze, Mikaberidze (Kavtaradze, 39), Tkemaladze (Aburjania, 90+2), Modebadze.
Head coach: Armaz Jeladze.
Banants: Nepogodov, Khachatryan, Arakalyan (Dgabshyan, 34), Edigaryan, Voskanyan (c),Du Bala, Balabekyan, Petrosyan, Hambartsumyan,Dashyan, Sujyan (Hovannesyan, 58).
Head coach: Rafael Nazaryan.
Goals: 1:0 Mikaberidze (18), 1:1 Du Bala (72, pen)
Yellow cards: Batiashvili(33), Kvakhadze (52), Dashyan (56), Balabekyan (62), Razmadze (62), Hambartsumyan (90).
Referee: Niel Doyle (Ireland)
“Metallurg” will hold the first match against “Irtysh” on July 14. The match will start at 18:00. Away match will be held on July 21.
Ilia Nanobashvili
