Khvicha Kvaratskhelia last missed a penalty back in the summer of 2023, making his miss in the UEFA Nations League B2 group match between Georgia and Northern Ireland all the more frustrating. The Northern Ireland goalkeeper Shay Charles read the shot expertly and denied the Georgian attacker, preserving his team’s clean sheet.
The match was evenly contested overall, but the visitors capitalized better on their chances. While the Georgians squandered several excellent opportunities, Shay Charles delivered a decisive moment in the dying seconds to secure three points for Northern Ireland. Georgia failed to push their defensive line high enough to catch the British side offside, which led to a close-range finish in the 99th minute, clinching a 1-0 victory for Northern Ireland.
UEFA Nations League 2026-27
Georgia 0–1 Northern Ireland (0–0 at halftime)
Goal: Charles S., 99′ (0–1)
Georgia lineup: Mamardashvili; Kakabadze; Dvali; Lochoshvili (Tabidze, 85′); Goglichidze C. (Beriashvili, 85′); Kharebashvili (Chakvetadze, 46′); Mekvabishvili (Kiteishvili, 77′); Kocharashvili; Kvaratskhelia; Kvernadze (Davitashvili, 77′); Mikautadze
Substitutions: Chakvetadze (46′); Kiteishvili (77′); Davitashvili (77′); Beriashvili (85′); Tabidze (85′)
Reserves: Kereselidze; Gugeshashvili; Egoyan; Mamageishvili G.; Zivzivadze; Tsitaishvili; Gagua
Yellow cards: Kvaratskhelia 95′
Northern Ireland lineup: Charles; Ballard (McNair, 95′); Hume; Atcheson (O’Neill, 86′); Brown Ca. (McConville, 72′); Charles S.; Devenney; Galbraith; Price; Kelly (Spencer, 73′); Donnelly (Madjennis, 73′)
Substitutions: McConville (72′); Spencer (73′); Madjennis (73′); O’Neill (86′); McNair (95′)
Reserves: Azar Co.; Peacock-Farrell; Devlin; Thompson D.; Smith P.; Morrison K.; Marshall
Yellow cards: Ballard 64′; Brown Ca. 67′; Devenney 95′
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