On May 13, 2012, the Georgian U-17 team coached by Vasil Maisuradze lost to Holland 0:1 in ½ final of European Championship. Six football players from that team arrived in Tbilisi with U-19 team. Wim van Zwam coaches the team again.
The Georgians needed draw for taking the first place in the group but the hosts of the tournament played on victory and took revenge. The team of Maisuradze played as No.1 and deservedly gained this victory.
Wales beat Moldova 6:0 and Holland could not make through to the next round. Holland scored 4 goals at the tournament and was scored two goals. Wales scored 7 goals and was scored 5 ones. Holland and Wales have 4-4 points and played a scoreless draw.
Wales went through the next round because it scored more goals than Holland.
The match against Holland started with advantage of the Georgian team. At the 10th minute Ilia Kerdzevadze assisted Luka Kikabidze who shot the ball but the Dutch goalkeeper parried it. However, Giorgi Papunashvili received the ball and scored goal – 1:0.
At the 23rd minute Kikabidze kicked the ball but missed the target.
At the 23rd minute after the combination of Giorgi Aburjania, Kikabidze and Luka Zarandia, Zarandia shot the ball but in vain. At the 40th minute Zivkovic kicked the ball but Beka Kurdadze saved his team. At the 44th minute after the shot of Zarandia Nick Olij made a save.
At the last minute of the first half, Zivkovic scored goal and restored balance – 1:1.
At the 49th minute Zarandia shot the ball but missed the target.
At the 52nd minute Aburjania started a good offence and scored goal.
At the 63rd minute Basacikoglu kicked the ball but the Georgian defender parried it. At the 89th minute Basacikoglu received the ball but could not kick well.
Wim van Zwam: “My team did not play badly. We just lost. Wales beat Moldova 6:0 and we could not make through to elite round. The boys are disappointed. We could have played 2:2. Goals are important in football. Georgia scored but we could use moments neither in this match nor against Wales. Georgia has a good team. We remember your team from European U-17 Championship. They fought us with 10 players till the 79th minute. I want to make accent on the second goal. The Georgian football player ran half field so that we could not do anything. It must not happen at such level but it is football and today Georgia was stronger than us”.
Vasil Maisuradze: “I want to thank the boys, Merab Katsitadze and the whole staff. I knew we would play well. We have resources to improve our play. It was not easy to beat Holland. It is success of the whole Georgia. Before the start of the tournament, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia met and blessed us. After winning two matches in the group, I knew that we would defeat Holland”.
Mate Tsintsadze: “I thank Vasil Maisuradze, the boys and the whole Georgia. We were preparing for the victory. We were 100 per cent mobilized on the field”.
Georgia - Holland 2:1 (1:1)
18 November. Tbilisi. Mikheil Meskhi Stadium.
Georgia: Kurdadze, Kakabadze, Gureshidze, Chanturia (cap.), Tsintsadze, Aburjania, Papunashvili (Gorozia, 70), Kikabidze (Akhvlediani, 86), Tevzadze (Samkharadze, 90+3), Zarandia, Kerdzevadze.
Head coach: Vasil Maisuradze.
Holland: Olij, Karsdorp, Luckassen, Hendrix (cap.), Riedewald (Heesakkers, 64), Bazoer (Vloet, 71), Basacikoglu, Leemans, Zivkovic, Cabral, Sanoh (Acolatse, 57).
Head coach: Wim van Zwam
Goals: 1:0 Papunashvili (10), 1:1 Zivkovic (45), 2:1 Aburjania (52).
Yellow cards: Bazoer (56), Luckassen (65), Tevzadze (80), Aburjania (81), Leemans (81), Tsintsadze (90+1).
Referee: Miroslav Zelinka (Czech Republic).
| 1. | Georgia | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9:2 | 9 |
| 2. | Wales | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7:5 | 4 |
| 3. | Holland | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4:2 | 4 |
| 4. | Moldova | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0:11 | 0 |
Lasha Tabagari
