November 26, 2022
With two weeks still to play the destination of the 2022 Georgia Erovnuli Liga season was still in the balance.
The Georgian top division of football was first formed in 1990 after the split from Soviet Union, since when Dinamo Tbilisi have been the most successful side, winning the championship 18 times. Torpedo Kutaisi have been their biggest rivals with 4 titles, although the last of these was in 2017.
The current champions though are Dinamo Batumi, who won their first ever title in 2021 and were still in contention to defend their title.
The Georgian top division consists of 10 teams who play each other 4 times for a 36 game season. The winners qualify for the Champions League First Qualifying Round, whereas second and third go into the Europa Conference first qualifying round, whilst fourth may also qualify, depending on the winner of the Georgian Cup. The bottom side are relegated, whilst 8th and 9th participate in relegation play-offs in order to retain their elite status.
Going into this weekend’s fixtures, Tbilisi led the table by three points with two games to play, ahead of Dinamo Batumi. Third placed Samgurali were battling with Dila Gori for a place in the Europa Conference, being one point ahead and so just as desperate as Dinamo Tbilisi for points. The final European place goes to the winners of the Georgia Cup where Torpedo Kutasi play Lokomotivi Tbilisi reserves, who are in the 4th tier but have eliminated two Erovnuli Liga sides on the way. Lokomotivi’s first XI are bottom of the Erovnuli Liga and will be relegated, but they would take the place in the Europa Conference should their reserves record a fairy-tale victory.
Dinamo Tbilisi are the most famous name in Georgian football, winning the European Cup Winners Cup in 1981, beating Carl Zeiss Jena 2-1 in the final, and famously beat West Ham 4-1 at Upton Park on the way. They also beat Liverpool 4-2 on aggregate in the 1979/80 European Cup.
However, their recent history in Europe isn’t so impressive. They lost on penalties in 2022/23 Europa Conference to Estonian side Paide Linnameeskonde, and lost 1-6 in the Faroe Islands to KI Klasvik in the 2020/21 Europa League.
Dinamo’s current squad includes familiar players such as ex-Dinamo Brest Ukrainian striker Stanislav Bilenkyi, who had scored 10 goals in 27 appearances this season, ex-Torpedo Zhodino Belarus striker Dmitri Antilevskiy had scored 3 goals in 24 appearances, and ex-Isloch defender Godfrey Stephens had made 13 appearances on loan from Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok. Ex-BATE Borisov keeper Anton Chichkan had been on the bench for most of the season but was still to make his debut for Dinamo. Only Bilenkyi and Chickhan were into today’s squad though, and both were on the bench.
Dinamo’s other foreigners include ex-Den Bosch Dutch/Moroccan midfielder Imran Oulad Omar, who had 6 goals to his name in 16 appearances, and Ghanaian journeyman midfielder Barnes Osei who had 4 goals in 27 appearances. Guinea striker Ousmane Camera had scored 10 goals in 34 league appearance so far.
Centre-back Jemal Tabidze had 11 caps for Georgia and defensive midfielder Anzor Mekvabishvili had won 7 caps.
Dinamo looked to have slipped up in week 34 after being held 1-1 at home by FC Telavi. However, Dinamo Batumi failed to capitalize with a disastrous 1-2 home loss to FC Samgurali Tskaltubo, and were no doubt hoping that Samgurali would return a favour today by also beating Dinamo Tbilisi. Samgurali won the first meeting of the two sides in Tskaltubo 2-1 at home in front of a crowd of 2,800, but drew 0-0 and lost 0-3 in Tbilisi.
Samgurali started with three foreigners in their line-up. Ex-Zenit St Petersburg youth player Nikita Simdyankin and Nigerian Lukman Gilmore were in midfield whilst 33 year old top scorer Brazilian Jeferson de Almeida, with 7 goals this season, was up front with Giorgi Nikabadze. De Almeida had a short spell at Nicaraguan side Real Esteli early in his nomadic career. Keeper Levan Shovnadze was in the most recent national squad but is yet to make his full debut for Georgia.
Tskaltubo is the nation’s leading spa town and Dinamo’s journey to today’s fixture was a distance of 250km, that would take close to just under 4 hours by road.
Samgurali were in an all green kit whereas Dinamo were in all-blue, with the names of the players written in Georgian script on the back of both teams’ shirts. The sponsors names were written in Roman script though !
The pitch was showing visible signs of wear and tear after a long season, suggesting that passing football might be difficult. The 26th May Stadium has a capacity of 12,000 with two small covered stands separated by a large gap in the middle. Beyond the covered sections, the seats continue uncovered all the way around both goal ends. There is nothing on the side where the TV cameras were located, just the running track.
The temperature at the 13.30 local time ( 9.30 am UK ) was around 14 degrees, with rain forecast, although it was dry when the game commenced. Samgurali were surprisingly 3/1 outsiders, with Dinamo 4/5 odds on favourites, and the draw at 11/5. All Erovnuli Liga matches are streamed live on the Crystalbet YouTube channel.
Almost immediately, Dinamo centre-back Tabidze had to be alert to danger when an uneven bounce nearly put Nikabadze clear. Samgurali came closer in the third minute. Gilmore ran from half-way past two Dinamo players and after being crowded out inside the penalty the ball fell for Akhvlediani to spin around and shoot inches over the bar from 12 yards.
The home side looked up for the game, and were winning nearly all the 50/50 challenges as their midfield were imposing themselves on their opponents, and Osei’s attempt to compete resulted in a nasty late tackle on Gilmore, and the first yellow card of the game in the 10th minute.
Dinamo were slowly adapting to the pace of the match, and after stringing a few passes together sent Kobouri scampering down the left touchline, but his inviting cross was headed off for a corner.
Samgurali got the opening goal their bright start deserved when De Almeida’s cross from left with outside of right foot saw Nikabadze evaded his markers and score with a low diving header into the far corner to make it 1-0 with 20 minutes played.
Samgurali continued to look the better team and on the half-hour Nikabadze was able to turn and shoot a few feet over the bar from just outside the area. Dinamo’s response was for Camara to fall over inside the area and appeal for a penalty, which the referee rightly ignored.
As half-time approached, the rain started to fall and Osei was a bit fortunate to stay on the pitch after another foul that could easily have produced a second yellow card. In a rare foray into the Samgurali area, Skhurtladze laid off to Kirkitadze, but the attempt on goal was charged down by a brave block.
Tabidze then entered the referee’s note book for a deliberate handball to prevent Nikabadze getting away, and from the subsequent in-swinging kick, Dinamo keeper Kutaladze athletically punched away de Almeida’s goal-bound effort and then leapt to claim the loose ball. With added on time being played, Dinamo’s Oulad Omar sent an optimistic long range curling effort a few yards wide, then de Almeida pounced on a Dinamo defensive mix-up to head for goal but as he attempted to round the keeper, full-back Mali produced a great, perfectly timed sliding tackle as the Brazilian was about to pull the trigger. Dinamo then broke and had a dangerous looking 3 v 3, but the danger was extinguished by a fine tackle by Kalandarishvili.
At half-time Samgurali were deservedly leading and perhaps deserved more than a one goal led. Dinamo Tbilisi had been poor and didn’t look like potential champions. They certainly needed a big improvement, and their coach made two changes at break, bringing on Bilenskyi upfront for the ineffective Camara, and Osikmashvili into midfield in place of Osei, who was a red card risk.
Whatever was said in the Dinamo dressing room seemed to have had some effect as with less than 50 seconds played, Oulad Omar sent a fizzing low shot from 30 yards which went narrowly wide. Dinamo were increasingly pinning Samgurali back into their own half as the rain became heavier, although the home side’s goal hadn’t been under any real threat.
That all changed in the 56th minute. Koubouri delivered a cross from the left and an unselfish headed knock down by Bilenkyi gave Oulad Omar the opportunity to smash home from eight yards. Shovnadze almost kept the ball out but the shot had too much power, and the keeper could only push the ball into the roof of the net.
Dinamo continued to press and in the 62nd minute Bilenyki play a short lay off for Skhurtladze to burst past a defender and shoot from the angle of the 6 yard box, but unfortunately for the visitors Maisashvili, prone on the floor, was able to head over the bar for a corner.
As the conditions continued to worsen the game became a midfield battle with plenty of endeavor but neither side being able to gain the ascendancy.
In the 76th minute, a skilful spin and turn by Kirkitadze gave him space for a shot but his effort from 25 yards was pushed away by Samgurali keeper.
With puddles now appearing on the surface of the pitch, passing football became increasingly more difficult as both sides strove for the winner. Dinamo managed to get the ball forward to Bilenyki but his shot on the turn went wide.
In the 89th minute Samgurali made big appeals for handball after Kukhianidze fired a cross which hit the arm of Osikmashvili at close quarters, but the Dinamo player couldn’t do too much about it and his arm was not in an “un-natural” position. From the resulting corner, a flick on at the near post by Kurdadze forced an alert tip over the bar by the Dinamo keeper.
The match was now being played out in farcical conditions, and the game wouldn’t have started with this much water on pitch. The ball was now frequently stopping in puddles and players were comically regularly running past the stranded ball. Both sides though were still striving for the winner, although it wasn't clear which side, if any, had the advantage of the tide !
With 4 minutes of added on time played, Samgurali’s Gavashelishvili was able to run at the Dinamo defence and went to ground just outside the area, and was perhaps fortunate to be awarded the free-kick. Gavashelishvili himself took the free-kick, which bounced just in front of keeper Kutaladze, who was able to get his body behind and for it to bounce away to safety. The final whistle was blown shortly afterwards.
Overall, a draw was probably a fair result. Dinamo improved in the second half, and showed commendable spirit to match Samgurali as the conditions became virtually unplayable. The point won could prove to be crucial.
With Dinamo Batumi winning their match at Gagra 4-1 they moved to one point behind Dinamo. However, Dinamo host Gagra next week knowing a win will clinch the title, although Gagra are fighting to avoid the relegation play-offs so have plenty to play for. Dinamo Batumi are at home to Torpedo Kutaisi and should be expected to win to put the pressure on Dinamo.
In the battle for third place, Samgurali travel to Dila Gori knowing a draw would be enough, but a win for Dila Gori would see them leap-from Samgurali into third place spot.
FC Samgurali : Shovnadze – Kikabidze, Maisashvili, Patarkatsishvili, Kalandarishvili – Akhvlediani ( Kukhianidze ), Burjanadze ( Gavashelishvili ), Gilmore ( Devdariani ), Simdyankin ( Kurdadze ) – de Almeida, Nikabadze ( Verulidze )
Dinamo Tbilisi : Kutaladze – Mali, Khvadagiani, Tabidze, Kobouri – Osei ( Osikmashvili ), Mekvabishvili, Oulad Omar ( Kalandadze ) – Kirkitadze ( Kutsia ), Skhurtladze ( Sigua ), Camara ( Bilenyki )
Highlights : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Stl5fxkoZ94
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