Christie attempts to bring the ball forward on his own down the right wing but eventually runs out of space.
90' +3
D. Khocholava enters the game and replaces V. Qazaishvili.
Final change for Georgia. Valeri Kazaishvili is off for Davit Khotcholava.
A chance goes begging for Ireland! Randolph launches the free-kick into the box. It is headed on towards McGeady who is in space on the left of the Georgia box. He takes a touch and attempts a half-volley, which flies high over the bar.
90' +2
Shane Long wins a free-kick on the half-way line. One last chance for Ireland to get the ball into the Georgia box.
90'
The fourth official has announced four minutes of stoppage time.
89'
Substitute Merebashvili finds some space on the edge of the Ireland box and attempts a low curling effort towards the bottom right of the goal. It rolls narrowly wide with Randolph beaten.
88'
Georgia come forward once more through Ananidze. He reaches the byline inside the box and chips the ball towards Kazaishvili, who can't generate any power on the header.
86'
Close! Very close for Ireland. Long does well to keep the ball in play and pass it to McClean on the edge of the box. He sprints into space but takes a heavy touch, allowing Makaridze time to smother the shot. The ball dangerously bounces up into the air but it is eventually dealt with by the Georgia defenders.
85'
G. Merebashvili enters the game and replaces G. Kvilitaia.
Giorgi Merebashvili comes on to replace Giorgi Kvilitaia in Georgia's second change of the game.
Ouch! Ananidze takes McClean's leg to the back of his head after he slid in to challenge the Ireland midfielder. No intent from McClean there but play was stopped to ensure Ananidze was ok.
82'
Another well taken corner from Brady arrives at the near post but Long is beaten to it be a Georgian defender. It arrives back to Brady who swings in another cross but it goes straight to Makaridze.
79'
D. Murphy enters the game and replaces G. Whelan.
Glenn Whelan's night is done. Daryl Murphy is on to replace him.
Minute
Description
78'
Georgia have found a second wind. They are starting to move the ball fluently again and look dangerous. This could be a testing final 10 minutes for Ireland.
76'
J. McClean gets yellow.
Yellow card James McClean
75'
G. Chanturia enters the game and replaces J. Jighauri.
Georgia make their first change. Jambul Jighauri comes off in place of Giorgi Chanturia.
74'
Now Brady is given space on the edge of the box to shoot. His left-footed drive is right at Makaridze who is forced to parry the ball up into the air before catching it.
73'
Substitute McGeady finds space in the centre of the pitch to break forward to Ireland. He makes it to the edge of the Georgia box with two in support but opts to shoot, which is blocked by a Georgian defender.
69'
A good chance for Ireland to take the lead there as Long heads over from around 15 yards out. It started from Christie breaking down the wing with McClean in support, before swinging in a cross to the Ireland striker. Ireland looking the more threatening side now.
67'
A slight delay as Navalovski is receiving treatment for a shoulder injury on the pitch.
64'
A few signs that Ireland are starting to take control of this game now. Georgia are struggling to impose themselves on the Irish defence like they did in the first-half.
62'
J. Jighauri gets yellow.
Jambul Jighauri is booked for a challenge on McClean as he tries to break clear of the midfielder.
61'
A. McGeady enters the game and replaces H. Arter.
Martin O'Neill makes his first change. Harry Arter's shot was his last contribution as he is replaced by Aiden McGeady.
60'
A long throw by Ireland arrives at the near post, where it is cleared away. It falls to Arter on the edge of the box who strikes it well with the outside of his left-foot but it's too close to Makaridze.
59'
Brady's corner had good whip and pace on it but it is cleared away by the Georgia defence.
58'
A corner for Ireland and a chance to get something from another set-piece situation. It all came from yet another long ball up towards Long who does well to bring it down and play it to McClean, who's cross gets blocked.
56'
Ireland are sitting on the edge of their box at the moment as Georgia work the ball around nicely. Ireland are simply hanging on at the moment.
53'
It's all too easy for Georgia at the moment. They are passing the ball around fluently with little pressure from the Ireland players. The ball is reaching the edge of the 18-yard box before anyone puts pressure on them.
49'
Jambul Jagauri rolls the ball beyond the challenge of Glenn Whelan and into the path of Ananidze. He hits it first time low and towards the bottom right corner. It goes just slightly wide but a chance for Georgia there.
47'
Ireland having a little more possession in the early stages of the second-half. Georgia look happy to sit deep and force them into playing it wide.
46'
We're back under way!
45' +1
The fourth official has announced one minute of stoppage time.
45'
Ireland look their most threatening from set-pieces and they prove so once again from a corner. Brady's cross finds Duffy at the back post who gets a free header on goal. Makaridze dives well to parry it away though.
43'
Ireland will be willing the half-time whistle at this point. Anytime they come forward they punt hopeful balls up towards Long who is very isolated and it comes to nothing.
40'
Kvekveskiri tries his luck from around 30 yards out. It's a powerful low drive, which takes a deflection off Duffy. Randolph reacts well to the change of direction to claim the ball.
39'
Georgia in the ascendancy at the moment. The fans are in fine voice as they push to take the lead against a stunned Ireland side. Martin O'Neill's men just can't get out of their own half at the moment.
37'
N. Kvekveskiri gets yellow.
Nika Kvekveskiri receives the first yellow card of the game for a careless two-footed challenge.
34'
V. Qazaishvili has scored a goal for Georgia! Assist by J. Ananidze.
Some good build up play from Georgia finds Ananidze on the edge of the box. He does well to slip the ball into the left of the box for Kazaishvili. Randolph rushes out to close down the space but Kazaishvili times it well to roll the ball beyond the keeper and into the bottom right of the goal.
He has been the biggest threat for Georgia so far and he proves so again.Ananidze takes a neat touch on the edge of the Ireland box and slips in a pass towards Valeri Kazaishvili who slots the ball past Darren Randolph.
31'
Another half-chance from nothing for Ireland. A long ball is chased to the by-line by McClean who chips it back towards the edge of the box. Long lets it bounce before firing a shot towards the far post. He gets good power behind the shot but it hangs in the air too long and goes over the bar.
30'
Ireland are doing well in shutting out the space for Georgia in the final third. They are just struggling to create much themselves when they do get the ball.
27'
Poor from Harry Arter. Ireland have a little possession for the first time in a while and Arter opts to chip the ball forward without really looking. There were no Irish players making a run and it just rolls back into the welcoming arms of the Georgian defence.
25'
Georgia are starting to find some joy down the wings. This time Navalovski crosses from the left and it bounces dangerously across the face of goal where Ward is forced to hammer it clear.
24'
Otar Kakabadze finally provides some threat for Georgia. He skips past Stephen Ward on the left of the Ireland box and swings in a cross with pace across the face of the goal but there is no one there to meet it.
23'
Still all Georgia possession at the moment. Ireland giving them little freedom to play.
20'
Good quick play from Ireland. A long ball is nodded down by Long to Jon Walters. He crosses for James McClean who has space in the box but he can't direct his header on target.
17'
Georgia probing but are unable to find a way through this steadfast Irish defence. Ireland try to counter attack through Shane Long but his lay-off is wayward and is shepherded out of play by Nika Kvekveskiri.
14'
Ananidze looking like Georgia's dangerman. He turns on the edge of the box and whips in a delightful swerving cross towards the back post. Striker Giorgi Kvilitaia doesn't get a clean head to it.
12'
Republic of Ireland look like they'll be a danger from set-pieces today. Robbie Brady swings in a cross from the right wing which is curling towards the back post. It has a little too much pace on it though and goes behind for a goal-kick.
10'
Jano Ananidze attempts to add some creativity to the Georgian attack, but his chipped through ball is overhit and rolls out of play.
9'
Georgia struggling to create much at the moment. Republic of Ireland happy to just launch the long ball forward to their front men. Georgia with most of the possession at the moment.
7'
Georgia trying to push forward at pace against the Irish defence but find too many bodies in the way.
4'
S. Duffy has scored a goal for Republic of Ireland! Assist by C. Christie.
Cyrus Christie launches his free-kick towards the back post for Shane Duffy to head home.
A goal out of very little for Republic of Ireland! Christie clips in a free-kick from the half-way line to Duffy at the back post. Goalkeeper Makaridze charges out to challenge the defender and misses, allowing Duffy to head into an empty net.
1'
We're off! Georgia get us under way, kicking right to left.
Good afternoon and welcome to our live text commentary of today’s European World Cup Qualifier game between Georgia and Republic of Ireland at the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena.
Georgia’s slim hopes of qualifying are all but over with four games to spare. They have yet to win a game in this qualifying group and sit nine points adrift of the top two.
They were defeated 1-0 in Dublin when the teams met in October and anything but a win tonight against their in-form opponents will ensure Georgia will not participate in the summer’s World Cup.
Republic of Ireland have impressed throughout this qualifying campaign so far and have the fate of qualifying in their own hands. They are level on points with first-placed Serbia having won three and drawn three of their six qualifying games so far.
A win tonight against their struggling opponents would take Martin O’Neill’s side one huge step closer to qualification ahead of Tuesday’s potentially decisive tie against first-placed Serbia on Tuesday.
There’s just over 15 minutes left to go until kick-off, so let’s have a look at how the two teams will be lining up this afternoon…
The two sides are making their way out onto the pitch, with just a few minutes to go until kick-off.
Martin O’Neill makes only two changes to his starting 11 from their 1-1 draw with Austria in June. Kevin Long drops to the bench in favour of Ciaran Clark and Shane Long replaces Jeff Hendricks up front for the Republic of Ireland.
Goalkeeper Giorgi Makaridze and defenders Guram Kashia, Solomon Kverkvelia and Giorgi Navalovski are the only players to retain their place from Georgia’s 2-2 draw with Moldova back in June as Georgia look set up to try and secure their first win of the qualifying campaign.
Ireland took an early lead courtesy of a mistake from Makaridze but since that goal they have struggled to impose themselves on the game. Georgia dominated throughout and deservedly equalised. All level at the break but if this keeps up, Georgia could be picking up their first win of this qualifying campaign.
The players are back out onto the pitch ahead of the start of the second-half.
FULL TIME: GEORGIA 1-1 REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
A competitive game with both sides creating good opportunities to take all three points tonight. Ireland were victims of their own gameplan as they sat too deep throughout most of the game and allowed Georgia to pile the pressure on. They found more fight in the second-half but were left to rue some clear cut chances towards the end of the game and walk away with a hard fought point against a tough Georgian side.
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