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International News Networks / Re: Juglander Review
« on: February 12, 2024, 04:47:53 PM »Juglander Review
Sports: FC Tsagedia wins Mktvartvelo's women's football league
FC Tsagedia successfully concluded their dream and, after defeating Orbi Baghdatsqaro by 2-1 in their last league match, proclaimed champions of the Mktvartvelian women's football league against all expectations. Some observers have described FC Tsagedia as a "Cinderella story in real life".
FC Tsagedia started the matchday with the same points with the other remaining candidate to the title, Avaza Ktsatskuri. FC Tsagedia had led the league since defeating precisely Avaza Ktsatskuri last Spring, only needed to win their match - or at least, to have the same result than Avaza Ktsatskuri in their match against FC Tolia Lagotsminda, the last club in the league classification.
FC Tsagedia, however, was unable to score in the first forty-five minutes against Orbi Baghdatsqaro. The local team would be finally able to score in the 57 and 63 minutes, when two crosses into their rival crowded area were converted to approach the local team to the title. Nerves would return after the 79 minute to the end of the match, when Orbi Baghdatsqaro striker scored after a poorly defended counter-attack. Both joy and relief erupted for both local players and fans after the match finally ended.
It is the first official title for FC Tsagedia, which nobody -even themselves- may have dreamed that the club from Tsagedia, sixth city in Mktvartvelo, would conquest the title. FC Tsagedia has a budget of $1.8 million way behind other women's football clubs such as Olimpi Azavrelia, Avaza Ktsatskuri, or FC Martvilisi. Last season, FC Tsagedia finished 9th, evading the relegation only in the last match. It may be that their football this season may not be remembered -besides their own fans- for their overly defensive but effective tactics (with 24 goals scored in 22 matches). However, it does not look that such criticism is shared by the club and fans after such a feat. FC Tsagedia combination of veteran and young players proved successful against more prestigious squads.
"Nobody deserved this more than you", Mktvartvelian player Tsminda Nemsadze wrote in a social media post. Nemsadze had played 13 matches as FC Tsagedia goalkeeper earlier this season, before she was signed by Juglander club AJK on September with a record transfer.
Despite their numerous chances, Avaza Ktsatskuri match against FC Tolia Lagotsminda ended scoreless, leaving Avaza Ktsatskuri as runners-up two points behind the league champions. The result was futile for the away team, which will face relegation along FC Gurjumi. FC Tolia Lagotsminda proved to be able of the best and the worst this season, winning the Brzdmtsveli Cup against Olimpi Azavrelia last September while finishing at the bottom of the league.
Mktvartvelo First Division - Final classification
Pos | Club | Points | W | D | L | Goals for | Goals against |
1 | FC Tsagedia | 41 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 24 | 14 |
2 | Avaza Ktsatskuri | 39 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 32 | 18 |
3 | FC Abakha | 35 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 26 | 20 |
4 | FC Martvilisi | 33 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 29 | 24 |
5 | Olimpi Azavrelia | 30 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 31 | 31 |
6 | FC Dedoplisaghi | 29 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 19 | 25 |
7 | Orbi Baghdatsqaro | 29 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 19 | 26 |
8 | FC Ktsatskuri | 27 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 21 | 21 |
9 | FC Azavrelia | 26 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 34 | 34 |
10 | FC Khashumi | 23 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 20 | 29 |
11 | FC Gurjumi | 22 | 4 | 10 | 8 | 20 | 25 |
12 | FC Tolia Lagotsminda | 20 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 16 | 24 |