Georgia accompany rampant Romania

A 3-2 victory in a dramatic encounter against Belgium gave Georgia a place in the UEFA European Under-19 Championship Elite round along with qualifying round Group 4 winners Romania.

Hosts celebrate
As Matchday 3 dawned, mini-tournament hosts Romania had six points and had clinched first place by defeating Belgium and Georgia, who both held three after overcoming Northern Ireland. Romania celebrated in Strejnic as Vasile Buhaescu, Georgian Marcu and substitute Raul Rusescu scored against Northern Ireland but in Ploiesti, Georgia knew they had to overcome Belgium, the side Marc Van Geersom led to least season's U19 final tournament, to finish above their rivals.

Georgian joy
Rati Tsinamdzgvrishvili broke the deadlock on 57 minutes but a quarter-hour later Jelle Vossen - who helped Belgium to the 2006 U17 finals - equalised. A draw would have taken Belgium through on goal difference, but with ten minutes left Vossen was sent off along with Georgia's Georgi Elbakidze. Five minutes later Aleks Benashvili put Georgia ahead and two minutes into added time Giorgi Khidesheli extended the lead. David Pollet had time to pull one back, but Belgium could not equalise and ended with nine men as substitute Vittorio Villano received a second yellow card.

Tevdoradze herocis
Villano had been in the starting lineup in the opening game, and scored as his team lost 4-2 to Romania in Strejnic. Diviu Ganea and Cristian Cojocnean put the hosts two up by the half-hour mark but before the interval Pollet reduced arrears and Villano levelled from the spot. However, Rusescu struck three minutes into the second period and in added time Ganea converted a penalty. In Ploiesti, Benashvili's 43rd-minute free-kick proved the difference between Georgia and Northern Ireland as Robert Garrett's attempt at a last-gasp penalty equaliser was saved by Revaz Tevdoradze.

Romania through
It was all over for Northern Ireland two days later as they were defeated 4-2 by Belgium in a thundery Ploiesti. Jelle Cherlet's 22nd-minute opener was cancelled out by Geoff McGaw but Vossen swiftly struck for Belgium. McGaw turned in Robert Weir's cross two minutes into the second half, but with 12 minutes left Vossen headed Belgium back into the lead after a swift counterattack. As Northern Ireland pressed, substitute Villano made it four late on. Romania secured top spot by beating Georgia 3-0, Iulian Ochirosii's first-half goal added to twice after the break by Cojocnean, but the former Soviet republic were also to advance to December's Elite round draw. Belgium, however, cannot finish as the best third-placed team.