Late heartache for Lions
Wednesday, 28 March, 2012
Georgia score winner deep into added time in Elite Round Qualifier.
A Giorgi Papunashvili goal in the third minute of added time gave Georgia a late, late victory over England in the second match of the Elite Qualifying Round for this summer’s European Championship.
England came into the game buoyed by Monday’s 1-0 win over Ukraine, the goal coming courtesy of Southampton’s Calum Chambers.
Head Coach John Peacock had long predicted the host nation to prove tough opposition and so it proved as his young side were unable to break Georgia down over the 80 minutes. England dominated possession but they were unable to breach their hosts’ rearguard.
The Young Lions came agonisingly close to earning what could have proved a valuable point ahead of Saturday’s final match against Spain, but Papunashvili popped up late on to give Georgia the win and boost their own hopes of making it through to the Finals, which are being held in Slovenia.