| Ukraine 2-1 Georgia |
| Georgia fell to their first defeat under new coach Alexander Chivadze against Ukraine in Kiev. Ukraine won their first match under their new coach Leonid Buriak in controversial circumstances after Ukraine's winner came in the 93rd minuite. Ukraine had virtually their full strength team out but Georgia was hit with major injuries to: Kakha Kaladze, who is refusing to play for the national team until the government finds his kidnapped brother, as well as both Arveladze brothers, Aleksandr Iashvili, Levan Tskitishvili, Georgi Nemsadze, Zurab Khizanishvili, Temuri Ketsbaia and PSV's Georgi Gakhokidze. Howevere there was some good news with Georgi Kinkladze playing after missing Georgia's last friendly with South Africa. Dinamo Tbilisi defensive duo Georgi Shashiashvili and Alexander Amisulashvili kept their places in the team and there was a surprise start for Lierse defender Gela Shekliadze who hadn't played for the national team for nearly 2 years. Leonid Buriak recalled Oleksandr Shovkovski to the side for the first time since his serious injury in July 2001 and he played in a makeshift defence with Viktor Skrypnyk (Werder Bremen) with Shakhtar midfielder Anatoliy Tymoshchuk at right-back, where he started his career in the mid-Nineties. Right midfielder Hennadiy Zubov was the key figure in the opening exchanges and Andriy Vorobey went close to heading in his cross in the 7th minute before Andriy Husyn played a one-two with Zubov, but his shot missed the target from 15 meters. The opening goal unexpectedly arrived in the 17th minute as Tymoshchuk found Serhiy Rebrov, who turned inside from the left wing and shot in at the near post. Gvaramadze looked to have it covered but he let the ball through his hands and it went in off the post. Vorobei then had two more chances to double the lead but the Shakhtar striker, nicknamed the little sparrow, saw one shot go agonisingly close and the next brilliantly saved by Georgian keeper Gvaramadze. There was the usual number of substitutions in the second half and the game lost its rhythm. Georgia moved further up field and threatened Ukraine substitute keeper Vitaliy Reva as Givi Didava came close in the 62nd minute with a long range shot which bobbled in front of the Ukrainian keeperl. Georgi Kinkladze then missed an even better chance before Vladimir Burduli accepted a long pass in the edge of the box and fired home a superb first time shot from a tight angle which totally deceived Ukraine goalkeeper Vitali Reva in the 72nd minuite. The goal reinvigorated Ukraine and they piled on the pressure in the last 15 minutes and their efforts were rewarded in injury time when Tymoshchuk popped up to head home after he lost his marker Rekhviashvili. Teams: Ukraine: 1- Olexandr Shovkovsky (12- Vitaliy Reva '52), 2- Serhiy Kormyltsev (22- Yuriy Maxymov '57), 3- Victor Skrypnyk (20- Serhiy Zadorozhny '57), 4- Serhiy Fedorov, 5- Vladyslav Vaschuk, 6- Andriy Husyn, 7- Andriy Shevchenko (17- Serhiy Shyschenko '49), 8- Anatoliy Tymoschuk, 9- Henadi Zubov, 10- Andriy Vorobei (13- Serhiy Skachenko '64), 11- Serhiy Rebrov (21- Serhiy Nagornyak '64) Georgia: 1- David Gvaramadze, 2- Levan Kobiashvili, 3- Georgi Shashiashvili, 4- Alexander Rekhviashvili, 5- Edik Sajaia (17- Lado Burduli '51), 6- Alexander Amisulashvili (13- Vitali Daraselia '83), 7- Gela Shekiladze, 8- Gocha Jamarauli (15- Revaz Kemoklidze '78), 9- Mikhail Kavelashvili (16- Givi Didava '46), 10- Georgi Kinkladze (14- Rati Aleksidze '70), 11- Georgi Demetradze (18-Mikhail Ashvetia '80) Attendance: 15,000 Referee: Lubos Mikhal (Slovakia) Pictures: |
| Georgia's Alexander Rekhviashvili holds off Sergei Rebrov |
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| Demetradze tries to block Tymoschuk |
| Rebrov shoots 1-0 Ukraine |
| Burduli Shoots 1-1 |
| Tymoschuk heads home 2-1 |
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