Connah’s Quay suffered late heartache as Dinamo Tbilisi eliminated them with a penalty in the dying seconds of the match.
The Nomads were seconds away from taking their Europa League tie into extra time before disaster struck when Callum Roberts gave away a penalty.
Giorgi Gabedava successfully converted his spot kick to send Tbilisi into the next round, thus ending the Nomads’ European campaign.
The hosts had battled bravely throughout the game and were putting in a performance deserving of victory. Dinamo Tbilisi were unable to break down the Nomads back five who had denied the away side all game.
The Nomads went closest to scoring during normal time through Jamie Insall whose acrobatic effort was brilliantly saved by the feet of the visitors’ keeper.
However, the heroic defending put on display by Morrison’s side was all for nothing, as a reckless challenge by a player who had been flawless throughout in Callum Roberts awarded the visitors a penalty.
Gabedava stood up to take it, and the Georgian slotted it home, taking his side through to the third qualifying round. With what proved to be the last kick of the game, Tbilisi had struck late as the Nomads crashed out in devastating style at the Racecourse.
The Nomads begun the game brightly, applying pressure on Tbilisi’s defence early on.
With the hosts’ winning several set-pieces to test the Georgian champions in the air. Tbilisi were unable to break out of their own third of the pitch during the opening exchanges.
But once they did, Kavtardze looked dangerous on the break for them as he looked to punish the home side early on, only for Davies to recover and tackle the attacking midfielder.
Dinamo Tbilisi failed to test Lewis Brass during the opening twenty minutes, with Morrison’s men set up perfectly in a back five to deny any threat the away side possessed.
However, Andy Morrison would have been worried at the sight of Lewis Brass receiving treatment following a heavy collision with the foot of a Tbilisi player.
Lewis Brass was later back on his feet and ready for action once again as the Nomads continued to contest.
Minutes later, Tbilisi received the first opportunity of the game when they hit the bar from twenty five yards out with what would have been a cracking opening goal.
As time went on, the more the visitors grew into the game, as they started to gain confidence with every possession of the ball.
They tested their luck on numerous occasions, while the Nomads’ defenders bravely put themselves ahead of every shot Tbilisi threw at them.
Before the Nomads fancied a goal, as they turned the tide during the last few minutes of the first half.
They almost got what they were after when Farquharson’s deflected cross was met with a bicycle kick attempt by Jamie Insall which required a quick save by the opposition goalkeeper’s feet to deny him.
As both sides made their way back into the dressing room for half-time, it was Andy Morrison who would have been the happiest manager on the touchline as his side put in a brave first half performance despite their circumstances before kick-off.
It was the Georgian champions who looked the more likely to score following half-time. With the visitors looking motivated to get a hold of the game and break the deadlock.
However, the Nomads continued to look dangerous on the break, with Jamie Insall the solo striker up top while his teammates were defending heroically to prevent an opener for the visitors.
Insall gained an opportunity to test the keeper from close range with a powerful strike, however he was offside.
Kavtardze pursued to be the visitors’ main threat in their search of the opener. He was played in behind just after the hour mark before Davies was able to put off the Russian whose shot was an easy one for Brass.
Tbilisi continued to pour on the pressure, with the Nomads starting to tire as time went on.
Gbegnon Amoussou was able to pull off a rare attempt on goal from the unlikeliest of angles, however Brass met his shot with open arms.
It was Kavtardze who tested Brass again in goal with a powerful strike from range, but yet again Brass was equal to the shot.
Connah’s Quay throughout the ninety minutes put on display some heroic defending as they looked satisfied to take the game to extra-time.
However, it was hero to zero for Callum Roberts, who was putting in a flawless performance deserving of Man of the Match before his reckless challenge in the dying seconds of the game gave away a penalty.
It was the Tbilisi’s number nine Gabedava who stepped up take it, and he slotted it home. As it was jubilation for the visitors, and heartbreak for the Nomads.
Dinamo Tbilisi advance to the third qualifying round of the Europa League, while Connah’s Quay Nomads crash out in dramatic and devastating style at the Racecourse.
In defiance of the result, it was an outstanding effort and performance by Andy Morrison’s men who did everything they could tonight to try cause an upset despite their unlikely circurmstances.
Having begun their game with only three substitutes available, due to five of his players being put into self-isolation following three positive cases of COVID-19 and endless amounts of injury problems within his squad.
Andy Morrison’s task of getting his side past the Georgian champions was made even tougher.
Every single Connah’s Quay Nomads player was deserving of victory and man of the match, even Callum Roberts who up until the penalty had made numerous challenges to keep his side in the tie.
Connah’s Quay Nomads: Lewis Brass, Danny Davies, John Disney, Priestley Farquharson (C), Callum Roberts, Aeron Edwards, Jay Owen, Sameron Dool, Kris Owens, Jamie Insall (Aron Williams 87), Declan Poole.
Yellow Cards: Lewis Brass 36, Jay Owen 38, Jamie Insall 45+4, Priestley Farquharson 53, Danny Davies 68’
Dinamo Tbilisi: Roin Kvaskhvadze, Davi Kobouri, Bakar Kardava, Giorgi Zaria (Tornike Kapanadze, 80), Giorgi Gabedava, Giori Papava (C), Giorgi Kimadze, Filip Oršula (Pernambuco 59), Simon Gbegnon Amoussou, Nodari Iashvili, Nodar Kavtardze.
Yellow Cards: Giorgi Zaria 46, Giorgi Kimadze 64
Goals: Giorgi Gabedava 90+4 (P)
See how Dinamo Tbilisi snatched the victory here:
(Featured Image: Will Cheshire)
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