The Georgian under-17 national team began the European Championship elite qualifying round campaign with a 1:2 defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Vasil Maisuradze’s team dominated at the start of the game and went ahead through Giorgi Ivaniadze. However, the opposition equalized almost immediately, taking advantage of keeper Luka Gugeshashvili’s mistake. Towards the end of the game, the guest team converted one of their few counter-attacks into what proved to be the winning goal.
Thus, the Georgian team’s chances to qualify for the final round have greatly diminished, but there are still two games remaining, which is what Vasil Maisuradze emphasized during the press-conference after the match.
“The elite round campaign has started terribly for us. With regards to Luka Gugeshashvili’s blunder, I understand that he is still young and that everyone makes mistakes, but in my opinion, this was too much. We have two days before the game against Russia, and we will decide later whether or not he will remain the first choice goalkeeper. In any case, changes will be made. Our chances of qualifying from the group have diminished considerably, but we will continue to fight.”
Bosnia and Herzegovina 2 v 1 Georgia
Tbilisi, Mikheil Meskhi Stadium
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Vasilj, Perić, Beširević, Čeliković, Velić, Mirić (74’ Sadiku), Resić (80’ Šabanadžović), Kovač, Dadić, Veladžić, Hadžić (66’ Vladić)
Georgia: Gugeshashvili, Kikalishvili, Kapianidze, Kasrelishvili, Kharabadze, Shetsiruli (41’ Andronikashvili), Kutsia, Ninua, Chakvetadze, Kavtaradze (53’ Davitashvili), Ivaniadze (74’ Spanderashvili)
Match Officials: Ferenc Karakó (HUN); Theodoros Georgiou (HUN), Stephen Donaldson (NIR); Andrew Davey (NIR)
Sent off: Dadić (76’)
Goals: Ivaniadze (14’); Resić (16’), Kovač (75’)
In the day’s second game, the under-17 national team of Italy beat their Russian counterparts 4:0 on the reserve pitch of the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium. The goals were scored by Filippo Melegino (5’), Moise Kean (25’, 65’) and Andrea Pinamonti (72’).
The next round of matches will take place on 17 March. Georgia will face Russia at 14:00 local time, while Italy will play Bosnia and Herzegovina at 16:00.