Georgia still in the running

Early goal
The FC Ameri Tbilisi player struck on 18 minutes but his side were reduced to ten men just after the interval when Giorgi Elbakidze received his marching orders. The win keeps Georgia fifth in qualifying Group 2, although they are now within five points of second-placed Ukraine with a game in hand.

Bright start
Georgia coach Otar Gabelia, a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup winner with FC Dinamo Tbilisi in 1981, went for a youthful lineup as he looks to build a team for the future. In the early stages, the home side appeared nervous and were punished as Tsinamdzgvrishvili headed in on his debut.

Penalty miss
The visitors' attempts to build on their advantage were hit when Elbakidze collected a second yellow card on 49 minutes. That seemed to revive Kazakhstan, and Berik Argimbayev thought he had earned his team an equaliser when he was fouled in the Georgia penalty area, only for Vladimir Yakovlev to fire over from the spot.

Stellar saves
Argimbayev then saw Georgia goalkeeper Nukri Revishvili produce a couple of stellar saves to deny him from open play. Home coach Anton Shokh was in downbeat mood after the match, saying: "While the Georgians worked with the ball properly, my players were not effective enough when passing and receiving. They gave away possession too much."