Georgia Beats Russia in Soccer Match

(Tbilisi. May 1, 2003. Civil Georgia) – Georgia won in EURO 2004 qualifier match against Russia 1:0 in Tbilisi on April 30.

Russia suffered a second successive surprise Euro 2004 qualifying defeat yesterday when Malkhaz Asatiani in his international debut scored early in the first half to give Georgia a well-deserved 1-0 Group 10 win.

Victory of the Georgian team turned into all night long celebration in the streets of Tbilisi. 

“This victory was needed not only by the national team, but by the whole Georgian nation,” said Georgia’s temporary Croatian coach Ivo Susak said at the post-match briefing.

No new tickets were printed for the match following a UEFA decision to play the match behind close doors after a knife was thrown onto the field and struck a player in Georgia’s qualifying home match against Ireland last month.

Later, UEFA decided to allow in the people who had kept their tickets from the October game with Russia, which was abandoned because of the floodlight failure at Tbilisi Lokomotivi stadium.

Georgia’s win means that Switzerland remains atop Group 10 with eight points after four games, followed by Russia with six. Albania is third with five points and Georgia is tied with Ireland with four points.

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