Sports Writing, March 28. Norway did not go beyond a draw in their visit to Georgia (1-1), in a match in which they commanded many minutes and in which they had the best chances against an opponent who knew how to tie an adverse result and who showed their faces in the second part.
If the absence of his injured great star, Erling Braut Haaland, was noticeable three days ago in Malaga, he did so more this Tuesday, in a match that if he had won it would have been a considerable moral boost.
Norway dominated the first part with authority. He monopolized the ball and the game, playing with sense inside and out, especially on the right wing, where Ola Solbakken was a threat.
Sørloth made it 0-1 with a low whip from outside that hit the post of a somewhat insecure Mamardashvili in a couple of blocks.
The goal reaffirmed Norway, which had two clear options to increase the result. Kverkvelia canceled out the first one by diving at Sørloth’s feet to prevent his shot inside the box.
In the other, the Valencia goalkeeper redeemed himself with a good hand from Elyounoussi’s shot after a great run by Solbakken. Aursnes, forced, sent the rejection to the clouds.
There was hardly any word from Georgia in the opening 45 minutes, unable to put together three straight passes and create any danger. Until Kvaratskhelia took a shot that licked the crossbar and woke up his team in the final stretch.
Georgia kept the momentum at the start of the second half and locked up a somewhat bewildered Norway. Nyland saved the tie on a shot from Kakabadze.
Sagnol smelled blood and moved the bench, bringing out a defender to play a 4-4-2. And the effect was almost immediate. Mikautadze stood alone in front of the Norwegian goal and beat Nyland, who shortly after saved the second from a shot from Lobjanidzi.
Norway reacted quickly. Mamardashvili saved at Sørloth’s feet. Even clearer was the chance that Ødegaard had, who sent a free ball into the clouds in an incomprehensible way with the beaten Georgian goalkeeper.
With the game already out of control, Kvaratskhelia had the goal on a counter, but his shot went close to the post.
It looked like Norway could win it. This is how Georgia understood it, which closed itself in and accepted a more valuable point for the locals. Norway, by contrast, are all but required to win their two games in June at home against Scotland and Cyprus. Haaland’s presence will be essential.
– Datasheet:
1 – Georgia: Mamardashvili; Kverkvelia, Kashia, Tabidze (Zivzivadze, m.59); Kakabadze, Davitashvili (Lobjanidzi, m.59), Kvekveskiri, Aburjania (Gargnidze, m.90), Azarov (Gocholeishvilli, m.70); Mikautadze (Beridze, m.90), Kvaratskhelia.
1 – Norway: Newland; Pedersen (Ryerson, m.90), Strandberg, Østigård, Meling; Ødegaard, Patrick Berg (Thorsvedt, m.90), Aursnes; Solbakken (Brynhildsen, m.82), Sørloth, Elyounoussi (Berge, m.78).
Goals: 0-1, m.31: Sørloth; 1-1, m.61: Mikautadze.
Referee: Andris Treimanis (Lithuania). Shown yellow card, by Norway, to Solbakken (m.79), Meling (m.90); by Georgia, to Azarov (m.53), Gocholeishvilli (m.90).
Incidents: Match of the second day of group A of the qualifying phase for Euro 2024 played at the AdjaraBet Arena (Batumi).
EFE
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