Poor Scots stunned by Georgia defeat

SCOTLAND’S Euro 2008 qualifying campaign will go to the last game against Italy at Hampden on November 17 after defeat by Georgia in Tbilisi last night.

After six wins on the trot, Alex McLeish’s side ran out of luck as the home side registered only their third victory of the campaign.

Georgia’s 17-year-old striker Levan Mchedlidze, making his first start for is country, headed the home side in to the lead after 16 minutes.

David Siradze drilled home number two in the 65th minute to stifle any prospect of a comeback and although McLeish’s side battled on, it is against the World Cup holders next month that they will learn if they qualify for their first major finals since 1998.

“Tonight just wasn’t our night. Big decisions didn’t go our way and we just lacked that little bit of quality that served us well in recent games.” McLeish said.

“Nobody gets an easy game in Georgia. It’s been proved over the years. It’s been a difficult venue for teams in a class better than us.”

Without Scott Brown, Alan Hutton and Gary Naysmith while Lee McCulloch and Garry O’Connor from the 3-1 win over Ukraine at Hampden on Saturday, McLeish drafted in Darren Fletcher, Graeme Murty, Shaun Maloney and Graham Alexander.

The Scots looked out of sorts and in the 16th minute found themselves a goal behind. Giorgi Shashiashvili’s corner came in from the left and Mchedlidze rose between Alexander and David Weir to bullet a header past goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

On 65 minutes Kvirkvelia took on Murty down the right and his perfect cut-back was tucked away by Siradze.

McLeish, going for broke, swapped Kenny Miller and Stephen Pearson for Kris Boyd and Craig Beattie immediately after the goal.

But when Georgia keeper Makaridze saved McFadden’s 30-yard free-kick at his left-hand post after 75 minutes, it was his first and last real action of the night. Hampden awaits a titanic clash with Italy next month.

GEORGIA: Makaridze, Shashiashvili, Asatiani, Salukvadze, Khizanishvili, Kankava, Menteshashvili, Kenia (Kandelaki 79), Kvirkvelia, Siradze (Jakobia 89), McHedlidze (Kvakhadze 85).

SCOTLAND: Gordon, Murty, McManus, Weir, Alexander, Fletcher, Ferguson, Pearson (Boyd 66), Maloney, Miller (Beattie 66), McFadden.

Referee: Knut Kircher (Germany).