| Albania 3-1 Georgia |
| Referee: SALOMIR Marian Mircea (ROM) Booked: Cipi, Dragusha, Bushi, Duro -- Demetradze, Rekhviashvili Attendance: 15,000 Pictures: |
| 10th September |
| Georgia |
| Albania |
| 1 Strakosha 2 Beqiri 3 Çipi 5 Cana 85 6 Hasi 7 Murati 18 9 Shkembi 10 Rraklli 58 11 Aliaj 17 Tare 18 Duro Subs: 12 Lika 13 Muka 85 14 Haxhi 18 15 Jupi 16 Dragusha 4 Dabulla 8 Bushi 58 |
| 1 Lomaia 2 Khizanishvili 3 Kemoklidze 38 4 Didava 54 5 Kvirkvelia 6 Kobiashvili 7 Nemsadze 8 Ashvetia 9 Iashvili 54 10 Jamarauli 11 S. Arveladze Subs: 12 Gvaramadze 13 Daraselia 14 Kinkladze 54 15 Rekhviashvili 38 16 Demetradze 54 17 Gakhokidze 18 Asatiani |
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| Hasi, 51 S. Arveladze, 62 Tare, 53 Bushi, 80 |
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| Albania gained revenge for Saturday's 3-0 loss to Georgia by defeating them 3-1 tonight to end the visitors' qualification hopes. The first half was a close affair, with both sides having chances to take the lead. Albania's supporters urged their side on, but Georgia defended well and looked to build from the back. The second half was a different story however. Georgia lost central defender Revaz Kemoklidze after 38 minuites due to injury and midfielder Alexander Rekhviashvili took his place in defence. Albania responded by attacking and were soon rewarded for their efforts. Besnik Hasi opened the scoring and striker Igli Tare doubled the lead just two minuites later. Georgia then began to attack and were rewarded when Rangers FC striker Shota Arveladze scored from close range to make it 2-1. Georgia continued to press but were caught out at the back on one of Albania's counter attacks and Alban Bushi scored. After the 3-0 defeat in Tblisi on Saturday, it was a morale-boosting win for Albania coach Hans-Peter Briegel, whose team end their impressive campaign with eight points, having been unbeaten at home after winning against Russia along with Georgia and holding the Republic of Ireland and Switzerland. "The beginning was a very good one from us but I should stress that we lacked the final ball," he said after the game. "The team expressed itself well after the loss in Georgia and Blendi Shkembi played the general's role in midfield. He performed very well and he is the one who will take the lead of the team." Georgia, who have seven points, visit Russia on 11 October needing a draw to avoid finishing bottom of the group |
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| Givi Didava challenges Albania's Edwin Murati |
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| Murati takes on Didava |
| Hasi challenges Alexander Iashvili |
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