Lokomotivi Tbilisi take control
Thursday, 14 July 2005
By Khachik Chakhoyan
Three goals in eleven minutes either side of half-time
helped FC Lokomotiv Tbilisi take the initiative in
their UEFA Cup first qualifying round tie at FC
Banants, although strikes from Aram Hakobyan and
Tigran Gharabaghtsyan brought the home team back into
contention.
Three-goal burst
Much of the pre-match hype surrounded Lokomotivi
Tbilisi’s midfield prodigy George Alaverdashvili and
the 17-year-old did not disappoint, breaking the
deadlock on 42 minutes. Lasha Kebadze and George
Oniani made it 3-0 early in the second period as the
visitors seized control, but Banants dragged
themselves back into the tie in the closing stages.
Alaverdashvili strike
The late goals will be a blow to Lokomotivi Tbilisi,
who looked at ease for much of the encounter in
Yerevan, not least Alaverdashvili. The teenager caused
his Armenian hosts problems from the kick-off and it
was little surprise that he struck first just before
the interval, springing the offside trap before
sliding the ball past Manuchari Ivardava.
Attacking intent
The Banants goalkeeper was beaten again three minutes
after the restart when Kebadze, who had earlier seen a
long-range effort hit the post, lashed the ball in
from an acute angle. By now the Georgian Cup winners
were pouring forward, with wing-backs Roin Oniani and
Mikheil Makhviladze playing as auxiliary wingers.
Banants recovery
But it was another Oniani, centre-back George, who
secured a three-goal cushion on 53 minutes, converting
from the penalty spot. However, with the tie seemingly
in their hands, the away team eased off. Samvel
Melkonyan soon took advantage, testing Beka
Shekriladze with a fine shot, but Lokomotivi Tbilisi
did not heed the warning and were made to pay.
Tbilisi date
With eight minutes remaining Hakobyan revived the home
crowd’s hopes by pulling a goal back and that optimism
grew when substitute Gharabaghtsyan further reduced
the deficit in the final minute. The stage is set for
an intriguing second leg in Georgia on 28 July