In the Erovnuli Liga 2 game on 20 September 2026, Shturmi beat Gareji 1:0. Match numbers: possession, % 51:49, attacks 146:123.
Match report
ShTURMI secured a narrow 1-0 victory over table-topping GAREJI in the Erovnuli Liga 2 on Sunday, taking all three points from a match that remained tense until the final whistle. The result sees the hosts climb closer to the top four while dealing a blow to Gareji's title ambitions.
And here's the thing about this fixture — it wasn't the fireworks many expected between the league's leaders and a side pushing for European places. D. Kardava broke the deadlock in the 60th minute, and despite several chances on both sides, the score held firm. The game had its share of friction, with seven yellow cards shown across the two halves, and a late substitution for L. Kemoklidze in stoppage time.
To be fair, the statistics tell only part of the story. ShTURMI edged possession at 51 per cent and registered 146 attacks compared to their opponents' 123. But chances went begging for both sides, and that single goal proved enough to separate them. The hosts had defended well when their backs were against the wall, and by then the momentum had shifted in their favour.
The result leaves ShTURMI in third place with 40 points from 26 games, sitting four points behind the leaders. Gareji remain at the summit with 50 points, but this defeat ends their unbeaten run at home and shows that nothing is guaranteed in this league. The hosts have not lost in their last three matches, while the visitors had won two of their previous five outings.
What struck me watching from the stands was how the match played out — not the goals, but the moments between them. ShTURMI dug in when they needed to, and Gareji found themselves chasing shadows after the opener. The old head of that team settled them down, but it wasn't enough to find an equaliser against a side that refused to travel to make up the numbers.
Prepared from match data
Key numbers
Possession, %51–49
Attacks146–123
Corners6–6
Yellow cards4–3
HT🟨30' L. Kalandadze — Yellow card🟨33' Z. Eradze — Yellow card⇄46' B. Gugberidze — Substitution🟨46' T. Shekiladze — Yellow card⇄51' T. Shekiladze — Substitution⇄51' N. Talakhadze — Substitution⚽60' D. Kardava — Goal🟨67' L. Kemoklidze — Yellow card🟨70' L. Nozadze — Yellow card⇄78' G. Nikolaishvili — Substitution⇄78' G. Omarashvili — Substitution🟨83' L. Butskhrikidze — Yellow card⇄84' D. Aidarashvili — Substitution⇄84' T. Kapanadze — Substitution🟨90' N. Grigalashvili — Yellow card⇄90+2' L. Kemoklidze — Substitution
