1990 FC Guria season
| 1990 season | |
|---|---|
| Manager | Murtaz Khurtsilava Gigla Imnadze |
| Stadium | Guria stadium, Lanchkhuti |
| Umaglesi Liga | 2nd of 18 |
| Georgian Cup | Winners |
| Top goalscorer | Otar Korgalidze (21) |
| Biggest win | 8–1 v Shevardeni 1906 (away, 23 August) |
| Biggest defeat | 2–5 v Mertskhali (away, 23 September) |
The 1990 season was the 66th year in Guria's history and first season in the Umaglesi Liga, which was launched by the Georgian Football Federation following its exit from Soviet football. In addition to the league season, the team also participated in the 1990 Georgian Cup, becoming the first winners of this competition.[1]
Overview
In early February 1990, when Guria were busy with pre-season preparations in Gagra, a nation-wide debate arose whether Georgian teams should continue taking part in Soviet competitions. The Gurians were in a delicate situation when, from one hand, they would not mind exploiting the success resulted from a hard-fought promotion battle in 1989 but, from the other one, could not ignore strong national aspirations directed against anything Soviet. The club seemed divided with the management inclined to opt in favour of the Top League, but it faced opposition from players who also had their say. Eventually, when supporters of a national league idea prevailed, Guria enthusiastically embraced it.[2] They had to go through certain changes, though. Manager Mykhailo Fomenko who had coached the team for last three seasons, as well as several players from other republics departed. Instead, two footballers were signed from Lithuania who likewise broke ties with Soviet football.
As 18 teams from across four divisions formed the Umaglesi Liga, Guria were in a pole position along with Dinamo Tbilisi, now renamed as Iberia. They had an excellent start to the season, winning the opening five games with a 14–0 aggregate score. But then the team stumbled, losing three away matches in a row. The race was still wide open until 19 October when Guria sustained a painful home defeat to Iberia in a must-win tie.[3] With this loss, their remarkable 55-game unbeaten home run stretching from 7 April 1988 also came to an end.
The team took revenge on Iberia in the cup semi-finals with a dominant 3–0 aggregate win and faced Tskhumi in a final game held in Tbilisi. Besik Pridonashvili became a hero again, netting an extra-time winner this time.[4]
Guria under coach Gigla Imnadze ended the season in a jubilant mood, becoming the first Georgian cup holders in history and runners-up of the national league. Midfielder Otar Korgalidze was the team topscorer with 21 goals while young defender Gocha Gujabidze was named Discovery of the Year.[5]
Statistics
Standings (part)
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iberia Tbilisi (C) | 34 | 24 | 6 | 4 | 91 | 23 | +68 | 78 |
| 2 | Guria Lanchkhuti | 34 | 22 | 6 | 6 | 73 | 20 | +53 | 72 |
| 3 | Gorda Rustavi | 34 | 22 | 3 | 9 | 63 | 33 | +30 | 69 |
| 4 | Kutaisi | 34 | 20 | 5 | 9 | 62 | 33 | +29 | 65 |
| 5 | Kolkheti-1913 Poti | 34 | 19 | 5 | 10 | 53 | 31 | +22 | 62 |
Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd matches won; 3rd head-to-head
(C) Champions
Matches
| 31 March 1 | Guria | 1 – 0 | Dila |
| 4 April 2 | Guria | 6 – 0 | Liakhvi |
| 12 April 3 | Guria | 2 – 0 | Amirani |
| 17 April 4 | Odishi | 0 – 1 | Guria |
| 22 April 5 | Guria | 4 – 0 | Shevardeni 1906 |
| 28 April 6 | Kolkheti Khobi | 1 – 0 | Guria |
| 2 May 7 | Guria | 3 – 0 | Tskhumi |
| 7 May 8 | Kutaisi | 2 – 1 | Guria |
| 11 May 9 | Guria | 2 – 0 | Mertskhali |
| 15 May 10 | Sanavardo | 1 – 0 | Guria |
| 20 May 11 | Guria | 2 – 0 | Samgurali |
| 1 June 12 | Guria | 0 – 0 | Batumi |
| 10 June 14 | Guria | 6 – 1 | Mziuri |
| 15 June 15 | Iveria | 0 – 4 | Guria |
| 20 June 13 | Iberia | 1 – 1 | Guria |
| 25 June 16 | Guria | 2 – 0 | Kolkheti Poti |
| 2 July 17 | Gorda | 0 – 0 | Guria |
| 9 August 19 | Liakhvi | 1 – 5 | Guria |
| 13 August 20 | Amirani | 0 – 0 | Guria |
| 19 August 21 | Guria | 5 – 0 | Odishi |
| 23 August 22 | Shevardeni | 1 – 8 | Guria |
| 1 September 23 | Guria | 3 – 0 | Kolkheti Khobi |
| 10 September 24 | Tskhumi | 1 – 3 | Guria |
| 14 September 25 | Guria | 2 – 2 | Kutaisi |
| 23 September 26 | Mertshali | 5 – 2 | Guria |
| 27 September 27 | Dila | 1 – 0 | Guria |
| 4 October 28 | Samgurali | 1 – 2 | Guria |
| 14 October 29 | Batumi | 0 – 1 | Guria |
| 19 October 30 | Guria | 0 – 1 | Iberia |
| 29 October 31 | Mziuri | 0 – 0 | Guria |
| 3 November 32 | Guria | 3 – 1 | Iveria |
| 8 November 33 | Kolkheti Poti | 0 – 1 | Guria |
| 12 November 34 | Guria | 2 – 0 | Gorda |
Source[6]
Appearances and goals
| Pos. | Player | DOB | L App | L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Mamuka Abuseridze | 1962 | 2 | - |
| GK | Avtandil Kantaria | 1955 | 32 | – |
| DF | Badri Danelia | 1962 | 25 | 3 |
| DF | Gocha Gujabidze | 1971 | 20 | 1 |
| DF | Temur Kabisashvili | 1967 | 27 | 0 |
| DF | Giorgi Khurtsilava | 1971 | 4 | 0 |
| DF | Roman Kuridze | 1965 | 16 | 0 |
| DF | Kakha Kvintradze | 1971 | 16 | 0 |
| DF | Romas Mažeikis | 1964 | 23 | 0 |
| DF | Gocha Tkebuchava | 1963 | 27 | 3 |
| DF | Davit Tsomaia | 1967 | 30 | 2 |
| MF | Zaza Bakuradze | 1968 | 12 | 1 |
| MF | Levan Baratashvili | 1964 | 23 | 0 |
| MF | Gia Chkhaidze | 1970 | 30 | 0 |
| MF | Otar Korgalidze | 1960 | 31 | 21 |
| MF | Teimuraz Loria | 1971 | 5 | 0 |
| MF | Nugzar Mikaberidze | 1963 | 25 | 4 |
| FW | Robertas Fridrikas | 1967 | 20 | 11 |
| FW | Besik Pridonashvili | 1961 | 32 | 13 |
| FW | Davit Ugrelidze | 1964 | 28 | 14 |
Source:[7]
Georgian Cup
Round of 32
| 2nd | Guria | 4–0 | Margveti | Lanchkhuti |
Round of 16
| 2nd | Guria | 4–2 | Mziuri | Lanchkhuti |
Quarterfinals
| 1st | Guria | 5–1 | Kutaisi | Lanchkhuti |
Semifinals
| 2nd | Guria | 2–0 | Iberia | Lanchkhuti |
Final
| Guria | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | Tskhumi | Tbilisi | |
| Pridonashvili 95' | Stadium: Boris Paichadze National Stadium Attendance: 35,000 Referee: Merab Malaguradze |
References
- ^ "პირველად იყო ლანჩხუთი! ისევ ნოემბერი და ისევ ფრიდონაშვილი – 35 წელი "გურიას" ისტორიული გამარჯვებიდან…" [35 years since historic victory]. guriatoday.ge (in Georgian). 18 November 2025.
- ^ ""გურიას" სიტყვა გადამწყვეტი აღმოჩნდა" [Guria's position proved decisive]. guriatoday.ge (in Georgian). 15 February 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ "Guria v Iberia match report". fcdinamo.ge (in Georgian). Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ "ეროვნული ნაკრების ისტორია". mygoals.ge (in Georgian). Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ "ფრაგმენტები ისტორიიდან" (in Georgian). Lelo. 27 March 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ "1990 Umaglesi Liga fixtures". tribuna.com. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
- ^ "Guria's squad in 1990". Footballfacts. Retrieved 4 January 2025.