November 11, (THEWILL) – Georgia recorded a shock victory over Sweden thanks to a brace from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, putting Sweden’s qualification ambitions on hold.
The Swedes had hoped to qualify on Thursday night and maintain their two-point advantage in Group B, only to be on the losing side. Second-placed Spain are facing Greece and, if they win, Sweden will need to defeat Spain in Seville to qualify automatically.
Sweden began slowly before eventually exerting themselves, with both Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alexander Isak wasting clear chances.
Georgia, on the other hand, did not set out to simply survive, but to counter at every opportunity, and it was they who came closest to scoring, with Saba Lobzhanidze smashing a cross-shot just wide of Robin Olsen’s post.
On 61 minutes, Sweden conceded a free-kick 30 yards out, which Tornike Okriashvili chipped in, and Olsen saved Irakli Azarov’s shot, but Kvaratskhelia was there waiting to ram home the rebound.
That should have sparked a Swedish counter-offensive, but the visitors were unable to put together a good enough answer. It therefore came as no surprise when Georgia scored again on 77 minutes, Kvaratskhelia finishing comfortably after overcoming Victor Lindelof’s feeble charge.
Although their performance came too late to alter their qualification chances, the speed and tenacity with which Georgia attacked bodes well for the future.
Sweden will need a point against Spain even if they lose or draw against Greece to qualify for Qatar.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
