Georgia and Romania finished level at 1-1 in Tbilisi, a result that keeps both W. Sagnol and M. Lucescu in evaluation mode with one competitive window left before autumn commitments. The draw felt less like a stalemate than a testing ground for systems: Georgia lined up in a 4-4-2 built around Giorgi Kvilitaia and Budu Zivzivadze, while Romania set a 4-2-3-1 with Ianis Hagi as the advanced pivot.
The first half was thin on chances yet not on edge. Vladimir Screciu’s booking in the 41st minute summed up Romania’s struggle to contain Otar Kiteishvili between the lines. Georgia’s back four of Saba Goglichidze, Guram Kashia, Luka Lochoshvili, and Irakli Azarovi held firm, while Mircea Lucescu’s side relied on wide overloads through Valentin Mihăilă without finding a final ball.
Lucescu used the interval to reset the shape, unleashing four substitutions at 46 minutes: Louis Munteanu for Florinel Coman, Alexandru Cicâldău for Răzvan Marin, Alex Dobre for Olimpiu Moruțan, and Lisav Naif Eissat for Andrei Borza. Sagnol made just one change, sending on Irakli Egoyan for Giorgi Chakvetadze, and the tweak gave Georgia immediate thrust.
Kvilitaia cashed in at 46 minutes, finishing the first move of the restart to put Georgia in front. Romania’s response was swift. Munteanu levelled in the 55th minute, meeting Screciu’s pass and validating Lucescu’s reshuffle: the holding midfielder drifted forward to create the channel for the striker.
Discipline became a storyline. Kvilitaia and Radu Drăgușin each saw yellow in the 59th minute, and the closing stages produced cautions for Goglichidze at 80, Tudor Băluță at 82, and Matei Ilie at 85. Romania’s bench kept revolving, with Ștefan Baiaram, Băluță, Ottó Hindrich, and Matei Ilie all introduced at 63 minutes, David Matei replacing the instrumental Screciu at 71, and Deian Sorescu arriving for Virgil Ghiță in the 78th minute. Georgia countered with a triple change at 66 minutes that brought Lasha Dvali and Ilia Beriashvili into defence and Giorgi Kvernadze into the forward line, followed by late cameos for Iva Gelashvili at 83 and Anzor Mekvabishvili at 84.
Neither side found a winner, yet both discovered useful data. Romania’s second string handled a hostile atmosphere, while Georgia’s fresh legs saw out the final spell without yielding a clear look. With another friendly slot still to be filled across Europe’s June calendar, Wales vs Ghana and other fixtures will provide additional markers for the scouting departments already comparing notes.
Sagnol will now sift through tape before naming his next squad, conscious that the back-four combinations remain unsettled. Lucescu leaves Tbilisi encouraged by Munteanu’s sharp cameo and Hindrich’s calm debut, but he will expect more rhythm once his starting midfield reunites later this month.
Key numbers:
- Final score: Georgia 1-1 Romania
- Goals: Giorgi Kvilitaia scored in the 46th minute; Louis Munteanu equalised in the 55th minute (assisted by Vladimir Screciu)
- Bookings: Vladimir Screciu was booked in the 41st minute; Giorgi Kvilitaia and Radu Drăgușin were cautioned in the 59th minute; Saba Goglichidze received a yellow card in the 80th minute; Tudor Băluță in the 82nd minute; Matei Ilie in the 85th minute
