Mamardashvili saves late penalty as Georgia hold Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland maintained their unbeaten start to UEFA Nations League Group B2 with a 0-0 draw against Georgia at Windsor Park, although a late penalty miss prevented them from taking an even stronger grip on their promotion challenge.
Giorgi Mamardashvili saved Isaac Price’s spot-kick to secure a point for the visitors, while Northern Ireland recorded a fourth consecutive clean sheet as they continued their pursuit of a first appearance in League A.
Match highlight
A slow opening produced little goalmouth action until the 25th minute, when Ruairi McConville’s header forced Mamardashvili into a low save.
Georgia soon threatened on the counterattack. Zuriko Davitashvili worked an opening with clever footwork inside the penalty area, but Pierce Charles responded with an excellent stop.
The hosts became increasingly assertive as half-time approached. Jamie Donley tested Mamardashvili from an angle following Trai Hume’s throw into the box, before Lasha Dvali made a crucial intervention to prevent Donley from converting Patrick Kelly’s cutback.
Price then sent a free-kick narrowly wide with the final attempt of the half, leaving the teams level at the interval.
Georgia coach Ramaz Svanadze introduced Giorgi Tsitaishvili for the second half, and the substitute almost made an immediate impact, forcing Charles into another good save.
A quieter spell followed before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, largely contained throughout the match, found room near the penalty area but fired over the crossbar.
The contest opened up in the closing stages. Mamardashvili produced an outstanding save to deny Josh Magennis, and the resulting corner sparked the game’s decisive sequence.
McConville’s header struck the crossbar, and although Georgia appeared to have survived the ensuing scramble, referee Sebastian Gishamer awarded a penalty for a high-footed challenge by Nodar Lominadze.
Price stepped forward seeking his 12th international goal, but Liverpool goalkeeper Mamardashvili kept out the spot-kick to preserve the stalemate.
Urged on by the Windsor Park crowd, Northern Ireland continued searching for a winner. A final opportunity fell to Ciaron Brown, who had scored his first two international goals against Ukraine on Friday, but his hurried finish failed to deliver another breakthrough.
Michael O’Neill’s side therefore ended the international window with two successive goalless draws at home, yet their defensive record and unbeaten campaign provide considerable encouragement before November’s final two fixtures.
Georgia, meanwhile, remain without a victory after four matches and need an improved return next month to avoid relegation to League C.
