On February 9 there is held the 160th match between “Crusandars” and "Highlanders". Two neighboring countries meet the second times at “Tsirion” stadium, before that they had met each other 4 times.
On February 6, 2000 the first match between Georgian and Armenian teams at “Tsirion” was very lucky for Georgian team (2:1). As result Georgian National Team took the second place in Foursome Tournament, which was underway in Cyprus. Before this match Georgian team won over Slovaks (2:0) and lost with Romanian National Team in penalty series.
According to FIFA Coca Cola rating “Highlanders” have better rating than “Crusandars”. Georgian team is on the 71st place and Armenian one on the 62nd place.
On February 21, 2004 Armenian National Team managed to beat Georgian one in Nicosia. Then head coach of Armenian team was Romanian Mihai Stoichiţă and team was full of foreigners.
It is worth mentioning that Sargis Hovsepyan 38-year-old Armenian player took part in each match against Georgian National team and it is not surprising that he held the most matches for national team. Captain Vardan Minasyan is called for this time too. Each time Armenian National team has different coaches.
One match between Georgian and Armenian National teams is very memorable. On March 30, 1997 Georgia hosted Armenian National Team – 7:0. Shota Arveladze scored hattrick in this match. His half-brother Archil Arveladze, who changed Temur Ketsbaia scored doubles. Giorgi Kinkladze (penalty) and Mikheil Kavelashvili scored the rest goals in this match.
Georgian team had never won with such point difference before this match as well as after this match. As for Armenian National Team, they lost with the same point difference with National Team of Chile in 1997 (0:7).
Tbilisi. March 30, 1997. ”Boris Paichadze”. 30000 Spectators.
Georgia- Armenia7:0 (2:0)
Georgia(96): Zoidze(Togonidze, 55), N. Lobjanidze, Tskhadadze (cap), Shelia (Shekiladze, 61), Chikhradze (Gogichaishvili, 46), Kobiashvili, Nemsadze, Jamarauli (Kavelashvili, 46), Ketsbaia (Archil Arveladze, 57), Kinkladze (Gakhokidze, 61), Shota Arveladze (Amiran Mujiri, 68).
Head Coach: Davit Kipiani.
Armenia(108): Avakyan, Sukiasyan, V. Khachatryan (Speyan, 65), Hovsepyan, Ter-Zakaryan (Tunoyan, 46), Vardanyan (Manukyan, 57), Petrosyan (R. Khachatryan, 61), Ter-Petrosyan (Esayan, 57), Mkhitaryan, Asaduryan, A. Avetisyan.
Head coach: Khoren Oganesyan.
Yellow card:Ter-Zakaryan(36).
Goals: 1:0 Sh. Arveladze (12), 2:0 Kinkladze (45,pen.), 3:0 Sh. Arveladze (53), 4:0 A. Arveladze (58), 5:0 A. Arveladze (60), 6:0 Sh. Arveladze (67), 7:0 Kavelashvili (81).
Referees:Valentin Ivanov, Vladimir Gaselev, Aleksey Gart (Russia).
Limassol. February 6, 2000. ”Tsirion”. 300 spectators.
Armenia- Georgia 1:2 (1:1)
Armenia(87): Abramyan(Berezovski, 46), Kazanjyan (Ara Akopyan, 79), Khachatryan, Hovsepyan, Asatryan, Dohayan, Petrosyan, Nazaryan, Aram Akopyan (Arutinyan, 87), Art.Karamyan, Sarkisyan (Arm. Karamyan, 43).
Head coach: Varujan Sukiasyan.
Georgia(60): Grishikashvili, Silagadze, Kemoklidze, Menteshashvili, Chikharidze, Tengiz Sichinava (Shekiladze, 22), Nemsadze (cap), Jamarauli, Kavelashvili, Archil Arveladze, Zaza Janashia (Merab Dzodzuashvili, 46).
Head coach: Davit Kipiani, Revaz Dzodzuashvili.
Yellow card: Kavelashvili.
Goals: 0:1 Z. Janashia (7), 1:1 Khachatryan (44), 1:2 Menteshashvili (55).
Referee: K. Konstantinis (Cyprus).
Yerevan. April 26, 2000. ”Razdan”. 22000 spectators.
Armenia- Georgia 0:0
Armenia(91): Habramyan, Vardanyan, Hovespyan, Khachatryan, Sukiasyan, Khojoyan, Voskanyan, Petrosyan (Asatryan, 79), Petrosyants (Art. Karamyan, 56), Shakhgeldyan, Aram Hakopyan (Arm. Karamyan, 68).
Head coach: Varuzhan Sukiasyan
Georgia(64): Grishikashvili, Mikadze (Rekhviashvili, 34), Nemsadze (cap), Silagadze, Sevasty Todua, Khizanishvili (Didava, 72), Sichinava, Aleksidze (Menteshashvili, 55), Chaladze (Ionanidze, 46), Demetradze, Kavelashvili.
Head coach: Davit Kipiani, Revaz Dzodzuashvili.
Yellow card: Kavelashvili.
Referee: G. Iakubosvski (Belarus), K. Balyan, V. Sharonyan (Armenia).
Nicosia. February 21, 2004. “Makario”.
Armenia- Georgia 2:0 (1:0)
Armenia(114): Bette, Hovsepyan, Khachatryan (N’Dumbuk, 79), Pachayan (V. Aleksanyan, 87), Melikyan (Manucharyan, 88), Zeizu, Nazaryan (K. Aleksanyan, 89), Mkrtchyan, Voksanyan, Art. Kamaryan (Kiraskoyan, 87), Arm. Karamyan (Hakobyan, 73).
Head coach: Mihai Stoichiţă
Georgia(94): Mamaladze, Kemoklidze (Kandelaki, 60), Shashiashvili, Tsereteli, Kvirkvelia, Vitaly Daraselia, Nemsadze (cap),Levan Korghalidze, Gabidauri, Kinkladze, Sandro Iashvili (Levan Melkadze, 60).
Head coach: Gocha Tkebuchava.
Goals: 1:0 Art. Karamyan (41), 2:0 Arm. Kamaryan (52).
Referee: R. Laiuski (Latvia).
Phridon Kervalishvili
