Determined Georgia deny Danes
Wednesday, 17 November 2004
By Vakhtang Bzikadze at Lokomotivi stadium
[1] Georgia will take pride in a fine result as they twice cancelled out Jon Dahl Tomasson goals to hold Denmark in FIFA World Cup qualifying Group 2.
Early goal
[2] Georgia coach Alain Giresse, who opted for a 3-5-2 formation with key striker Shota Arveladze on the bench, had promised his team would be competitive, and he was as good as his word despite an early goal by Tomasson on six minutes. Tomasson latched on to the returning Mamuka Jikia's clearance before finding the far corner of Akaki Devadze's goal.
Sorensen save
[3] The hosts soon found their feet and started looking for a way to Thomas Sorensen's goal. Georgi Demetradze had already only just failed to connect with a fine Malkhaz Asatiani through-ball and later on Sorensen did well to save the striker's free-kick.
Georgian chances
[4] On 18 minutes Demetradze was centre of attention again, when he fed Alexander Iashvili, who shot over the bar from a good position. Then a cross by Levan Kobiashvili was met by the onrushing Kakha Kaladze, but the defender was disappointed to see the ball sail wide of goal.
Demetradze equaliser
[5] Just after the half-hour Georgia were finally level. Asatiani fed Kobiashvili, who crossed to Demetradze, and the diminutive striker's header made it 1-1. That was the scoreline at half-time when Georgian Football Federation president Merab Zhordania congratulated Murtaz Khurtsilava who was voted Georgia's best player of the last 50 years in the UEFA Jubilee poll.
Long-range leveller
[6] In the 64th minute, though, Tomasson restored the Danish lead with a fine shot from outside the area. But again the home side got back on terms, as 12 minutes after that goal Asatiani skipped past two defenders before rifling a shot in from long range.
Effort ruled out
[7] Both teams could have managed winners in the remaining minutes. Demetradze inadvertently blocked a shot from 72nd-minute substitute Arveladze, after a teasing cross from Kobiashvili in front of an empty net. At the other end, the visitors thought they had scored when Tomasson cut the ball back to substitute Dennis Rommedahl, but the AC Milan man was offside.
Next fixtures
[8] Denmark are now five points adrift of group leaders Ukraine, and continue their campaign in Greece on 9 February. The European champions are then the visitors to Georgia, only a point behind Denmark, on 26 March.