Dinamo Batumi saw off Sparty 3-0 in the Erovnuli Liga's Regular Season round 23 on Saturday. The hosts took all three points at home, extending their push for the top of the table.
And here's the thing about the opening minutes — L. Tsulukidze gave Dinamo the lead from the penalty spot in the seventh minute. Sparty's N. Kentchadze picked up a yellow card at the 17th minute, and T. Askurava followed suit at 25. Tsulukidze then added his second in the 26th, and A. Eshetiye capped the first half with a third goal in the 40th minute.
By then, the game was effectively over. Both sides made six substitutions at the break — I. Turitsov, L. Tsulukidze, G. Tsetskhladze, B. Jibril, and T. Askurava came on for Dinamo, while Y. Kalley was among those replaced. R. Chiteishvili received a yellow card in the 55th minute.
The second half saw more changes. T. Kirkitadze entered at 60, G. Bunturi and S. Gegiadze came on at 72, and S. Altunashvili was brought on at 75. S. Mathenjwa took a yellow card in the 80th minute, but Sparty could not respond.
The statistics told a story of control. Dinamo registered 130 attacks and 3 shots on target, while Sparty managed 136 attacks but failed to register a single shot on target. Possession was barely split at 52 per cent to 48, but the difference was in the final third.
To be fair, the result leaves Dinamo in second place with 37 points from 23 games, five wins and seven draws ahead of Sparty in ninth on 23 points. The visitors have won just five of their 23 outings and now trail by 14 points with a game in hand.