Patrik Schick bundled home a second-half equaliser to earn the Czech Republic a 1-1 draw with Georgia, who led through a Georges Mikautadze penalty
If Georgia’s stay in Germany does end against Portugal in Gelsenkirchen on Wednesday, oh what fun they have had. Episode two of Georgia’s first European Championship was, an almighty ball: loud, fraught, dogged and occasionally ridiculous, a Royal Rumble of sorts as they and the Czech Republic tried to earn a priceless win in pursuit of the last 16.
When the fourth official raised his LED board to signal at least two minutes of first-half stoppage time, all those present could be forgiven for needing to come up for air. It had been a breathless contest from the moment the teams swapped ends, the Georgia goalkeeper, Giorgi Mamardashvili, revving up the supporters behind his goal before touching his posts and crossbar, presumably out of superstition. The message staring back at him was clear.
When Kvara Kvaratskhelia mapped out a free-kick wide on the right flank with the interval looming, the Czechs presumably thought they were one clearance from the half-time whistle. But moments later grown adults embraced, in tears at the award of a Georgia penalty, after the VAR spied Hranac’s extended right arm. Mikautadze had not even sent Stanek the wrong way from 12 yards at that point.Hranac tried to move his hand away from the ball but the damage was done.
Kvirkvelia to the punch to glance a fine header against a post. The ball clinked off the upright but boomeranged, bouncing in off Schick’s chest. Another substitute, Mojmir Chytil, sent a diving header wide and then Mamardashvili saved from Lingr.
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