Euro 2024 – Georgia-Czech Republic 1-1: Schick responds to Mikautadze, everything is still in the balance

One goal per half, one point each. Georgia and the Czech Republic fail to take home a vital victory, surrendering to the fairness of a 1-1 which still keeps their qualification plans in place for both. It was mainly the Czechs who left the field with a sullen expression, creating much more in attack but constantly bumping into the saves of Mamardashvili, the best on the pitch. In addition to a goal disallowed in the first part of the match to Hlozek (touch with one arm). Georgia was the first to take the lead in injury time in the first half, scoring from a penalty with the usual Mikautadze. Schick took care of avoiding defeat in the fifteenth minute of the second half. Georgia celebrates its first, historic point in a final phase of the European Championships, even if in the 95th minute it incredibly wastes the winning ball with Lobjanidze. As regards the situation of group F, everything is still open and will be decided on the last day: both Georgia and the Czech Republic have concrete chances of qualifying, both as second and entering the group of the four best third-placed teams.

Georgia-Czech Republic 1-1 (first half 1-0)

Georgia (3-5-2): Mamardashvili; Kverkvelia (82′ Gvelesiani), Kashia, Dvali; Kakabadze, Davitashvili (62′ Chakvetadze), Mekvabishvili, Kochorashvili, Tsitaishvili (62′ Lochoshvili); Mikautadze (88′ Kvilitaia), Kvaratskhelia (82′ Lobjanidze). Ct. Sagnol

Czech Republic (3-4-3): Stanek; Holes, Hranac, Krejci; Coufal, Provod (82′ Sevcik), Soucek, D. Jurasek (81′ Barak); Cerny (55′ M. Jurasek), Schick (68′ Chytil), Hlozek (55′ Lingr). Ct. Hasek

Referee: Daniel Siebert (Germany)

Goal: 49′ pt pen. Mikautadze (G), 59′ Schick (R)

Warned: Coufal, Kashia, Provod, D. Jurasek, Holes, Soucek, Mekvabishvili, Soucek, Kochorashvili

3′ – First Hlozek shoots with his left foot inside the area following a throw-in and then Krejci tries, but in both cases Mamardashvili blocks. The Georgian goalkeeper, a few seconds later, also gets his hands on a great header from Schick.

23′ – Hlozek scores with a rebound following the development of another long throw from Coufal: the goal is first validated and then disallowed, as the Czech attacker’s last touch came with his arm.

49′ pt – GEORGIA GOAL. Penalty awarded after an on field review for a touch in the area with an arm by Hranac: Mikautadze makes no mistake from the spot, wrong-footing Stanek. 1-0.

50′ pt – Schick’s shot into the area, a left-footed shot and yet another miracle from Mamardashvili, the absolute protagonist of the first half.

59′ – GOAL BY THE CZECH REPUBLIC. Corner kick from the right, a flick from the substitute Lingr who hits the post, the ball bounces off Schick’s body and rolls into the net. 1-1.

95′ – Deadly three-on-one counterattack, Lochoshvili touches for Lobjanidze, who sensationally shoots over the crossbar in front of Stanek. Incredible final opportunity wasted by Georgia.

From here, to the last action, Lobjanidze ate the possible winning goal.

Giorgi MAMARDASHVILI. He opposes the Czech Republic’s attempts in every way. If Georgia remains standing, the credit is 90% his. Only Schick manages to overcome him.

Saba LOBJANIDZE. But what did they eat in the fifth minute of injury time? Clumsy right to the stars, very serious mistake. You will dream about this action for the next two or three nights.