Georgia round-up: Akhalaia double inspires Tbilisi

FC Dinamo Tbilisi beat FC Dinamo Batumi 3-1 to stay on top of Georgian Premier League at the weekend, while FC Torpedo Kutaisi kept the pressure on the leaders with a victory of their own.

Akhalaia double
Vladmier Akhalaia struck twice in the first 30 minutes to thrust Tbilisi in a 2-0 lead, but Shalva Khujadze pulled one back for the hosts with a powerful shot into the top corner just before the interval. Seconds later, Tbilisi's Archil Sakhvadze and Godergzi Chichua of Batumi were both sent off, while Alexander Gogberishvili's goal with nine minutes remaining made it 3-1 and secured the points for the Tbilisi club.

Hat-trick for Poroshin
Ukrainian striker Andriy Poroshin was the hero for Torpedo Kutaisi, who eased to a 4-2 victory over FC Sioni Bolnisi at the 26 Maisi stadium, a neutral venue in Tskaltubo. Poroshin completed his hat-trick during 25 first-half minutes, also setting up Gaga Chkhetiani on the stroke of half-time. Sioni did muster something approaching a comeback, but Kakhaber Daushvili and Levan Shavgulidze's goals were nothing more than a consolation.

Goals galore in Tbilisi
FC Lokomotivi Tbilisi, meanwhile, stumbled to a 3-2 defeat at FC Merani-91 Tbilisi. Dimitri Pirtskhalaishvili, Alexander Koshkadze and David Chigvinadze scored to give Merani a 3-0 lead, before Teimuraz Burnadze and Roin Oniani pulled two goals back for Lokomotivi. However, the visitors could not complete their comeback and Merani held on for the three points.

10,000 league goals
FC Dila Gori beat FC Milani Tsnori 3-1 at a neutral venue in Mtskheta, Saba Sultanishvili of Dila scoring the 10,000th goal in Georgian championship history, while FC Kolkheti-1913 Poti beat hosts FC Metalurgi Zestaponi 2-0 in Samtredia. The day's remaining match, FC WIT Georgia beat FC Gorda Rustavi 2-0.