Georgia picked up its first point at the European Championship on the second matchday of Group F. In Hamburg, Willy Sagnol’s team secured a flattering 1:1 draw against the Czech Republic.
In a fast-paced game, the Czechs were clearly closer to victory. In the end, the 1996 European Championship finalists had 26 shots on goal:6. In the end, however, the Georgians almost celebrated after a counterattack in injury time. However, Saba Lobjanidze miserably missed the golden opportunity.
Except for this scene, luck was on the Georgians’ side. The video assistant referee was on the underdog’s side twice. In the 23rd minute, he intervened after the Czechs had apparently taken the lead, as the ball went into the goal from Adam Hlozek’s hand. In stoppage time of the first period, he finally intervened after Robin Hranac – who had already scored an own goal in the first game against Portugal – hit the ball in his own penalty area. After consulting the video images, referee Daniel Siebert awarded a penalty. Georges Mikautadze scored confidently and turned the game on its head.
The Czechs also set the tone in the second half, but without being as determined as in the first half, when Leverkusen players Adam Hlozek and Patrik Schick each missed two top-class chances and were stopped by the strong Georgian goalie Giorgi Mamardashvili. After just under an hour, however, the 23-year-old was also beaten. It was Schick who managed to score the deserved equaliser after a corner. That was all it was going to be.
Thanks to the point, both teams still have a chance of qualifying for the round of 16 before the last matchday.
Georgia – Czech Republic 1:1 (1:0)
Hamburg. – 46,524 spectators. – Referee Siebert (GER). – Goals: 45. Mikautadse (penalty) 1:0. 59. Schick 1:1.
Georgia: Mamardashvili; Kvirkvelia (82. Gvelesiani), Kashia, Dwali; Tsitaishvili (62. Lotschoshvili); Davitashvili (62. Chakvetadze), Mekvabishvili, Kochorashvili, Kakabadze; Mikautadze (88. Kvilitaia), Kvaratskhelia (83. Lobyanidze).
Czech Republic: Stanek; Holes, Hranac, Krejci; Coufal, Provod (82. Barak), Soucek, David Jurasek (82. Sevcik); Cerny (55. Matej Jurasek), Schick (68. Chytil), Hlozek (55. Lingr).
Remarks: 23. Goal by Hlozek disallowed for handball. 59. Shot on the post by Lingr. Warnings: 18. Coufal. 36. Kaschia. 40. Provod, 47. Jurasek, 53. Holes, 81. Soucek, 82. Gwelesiani, 83. Mekvabischwili, 95. Kochorashvili.
