The Georgian national team lost four matches in a row. First they lost to France (1:3), then to Ireland (0:4), Denmark (1:2) and in the end to Kazakhstan. The Georgians possessed the ball but did not have a goal moment for 90 minutes.
The match which took place on “Astana Arena” was a preparation stage for the both teams. On 6 and 10 September Kazakhstan will play Faroe Islands and Sweden and the Georgians – France and Finland.
The main football arena of the city is capacity of 30 000 fans. “Shakhter” Karagandy holds European matches on this stadium. The club will host “Celtic” Glasgow in Astana.
The match was dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Kazakhstani football. Before the match Temur Ketsbaia stated: We will try to show good match to fans and to win. It is hard to say how his words were justified.
The hosts had territorial advantage. Our defense failed at the 17th minute. Khizanishvili lost position at the penalty area and Khizhnichenko scored goal from 18 meters. The Georgians gave us hope twice: Jano Ananidze took a free kick and then Targamadze attacked but goalkeeper parried the ball on corner.
Ketsbaia substituted some players in the second half but it did not help. The Georgians lost to Kazakhstan for the first time.
Kazakhstan - Georgia 1:0 (1:0)
14 August. Astana. “Astana Arena.”
Kazakhstan: Sidelnikov, Muldarov, Kislitsyn, Nurdauletov, Dmitrenko, Zhumaskaliyev (Baizhanov 79), Shomko (Yurin 90+2), Bogdanov, Khizhnichenko (Ostapenko 62), Korobkin, Shchetkin (Engel 69)
Head coach: Miroslav Beranek
Georgia: Revishvili, Kashia (Shota Grigalashvili 82), Khizanishvili, Amisulashvili, Grigalava, Kobakhidze, Kankava, Okriashvili (Mchedlidze 46), Targamadze (Gelashvili 68), Ananidze (Elguja Grigalashvili 46), Sirbiladze (Dvalishvili 46)
Head coach: Temur Ketsbaia
Goal: 1:0 Khizhnichenko (17)
Solomon Gulisashvili
