U-17 team of Vasil Maisuradze made through to elite round and then semifinal of European Championship. Now head coach of U-19 team fulfilled his program minimum and his team will play in elite round.

The Georgian team beat Wales (5:1) in the first match and did not have problems with Moldova. Holland could not defeat Wales (0:0) on “Dinamo Arena” and the Georgians have a real chance to take the first place in the group. Draw with Holland is enough for Georgia on 18 November.

The fate of the previous match was decided in the first 8 minutes when the hosts scored two goals and kept this advantage till the end. The Moldovans must be grateful to their goalkeeper Pavel Galac for not losing with bigger score.

At the 4^th minute Luka Zarandia assisted Luka Kikabidze who scored a goal – 1:0.

At the 8^th minute Giorgi Aburjania played a “wall” with Giorgi Papunashvili in the opponent’s penalty area and then scored goal – 2:0.

At the 43^rd minute Davit Jikia kicked the ball strongly but Galac made a save.

At the last minute of the half Zarandia assisted Jikia but the Moldovan defender prevented him from kicking the ball well.

4 minutes after the start of the second half Aburjania assisted Zarandia who could not score goal. At the 52^nd minute Jikia’s attempt to throw the ball over the head of the goalkeeper was in vain.

At the 57^th minute Giorgi Gorozia took a corner kick and Mate Tsintsadze missed the target. The Moldovans kicked the ball toward the net at the 60^th minute for the first time but Beka Kurdadze made a save.

At the 61^st minute after a good assist of Jikia, Aburjania was one on one with the goalkeeper but missed the target. At the 66^th minute Jikia shot the ball but Galac made a save.

At the 78^th minute Giorgi Gorozia had an effort on goal but the Moldovan goalkeeper played well. At the 90^th minute after the assist of Jikia, Zarandia kicked the ball weakly and Mihai Rosca took the ball from the empty net.

After the match the Georgian U-19 team celebrated making through to elite round by dancing Khorumi and thanked to spectators who came to the stadium.

Vasil Maisuradze: “I congratulate to fans of the Georgian football, my team and myself on going through elite round. I knew we had to play as No.1. We did everything how we had planned. The same lineup will play against Holland. Perhaps, I will make some changes. The match against Holland will be interesting. Let us see what will happen. We held two beautiful matches and perhaps, we deserved a lot of spectators to come to the stadium”.

Maisuradze praised 16-year-old goalkeeper Beka Kurdadze for his work in the last two matches.

Kurdadze stated the following:

“I thank the coaching staff and the boys. I think we played well. The first two goals had influence on us and Moldova as well. We deservedly made through to elite round”.

Iurie Osipenco: “The fast two goals broke us. We were scored two goals in 10 minutes. You must play football 90 minutes. We played one half well against Holland. We did not play 80 minutes bad against Georgia. We are in the strongest group. Georgia and Holland will go through the final round. I congratulate the Georgian team on playing in elite round and wish you to play in the final round”.  

Georgia – Moldova 2:0 (2:0)

15 November. Tbilisi. Mikheil Meskhi Stadium.

Georgia: Kurdadze, Kakabadze, Gureshidze, Chanturia (cap.), Tsintsadze, Aburjania, Papunashvili (Gorozia, 46), Jikia, Kikabidze (Kerdzevadze, 61), Tevzadze, Zarandia.

Head coach: Vasil Maisuradze.

Moldova: Galac, Vlas, Rogac, Valerii Macritchii, Calugher (cap.), Birdan (Andronic, 63), Paireli (Andrei Macritchii, 84), Bejan, Rosca, Cemschi, Damascan (Rebenja, 52).

Head coach: Iurie Osipenco.

Goals: 1:0 Kikabidze (4), 2:0 Aburjania (8).

Yellow cards: Vlas (32), Birdan (42).

Referee: Oliver Drachta (Austria).

Lasha Tabagari