In a night of high tension and elation, the Georgia national football team secured their first-ever qualification for a major tournament after edging out EURO 2004 champions Greece on penalties. The nerve-wracking encounter at the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena ended goalless after extra time, forcing a penalty shootout to decide their fate.

The hero of the night was substitute Nika Kvekveskiri. With the scores locked at 4-4 after a tense penalty sequence, Kvekveskiri stepped up and coolly slotted his effort past Greece’s Odysseas Vlachodimos, sparking jubilant celebrations in Tbilisi.

The drama unfolded throughout the shootout. Greece captain Tasos Bakasetas saw his penalty saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili, while Giorgos Giakoumakis missed the target for the visitors. For Georgia, Georges Mikautadze’s attempt was the only blemish in an otherwise flawless display from the penalty spot.

The tension was palpable throughout the match, with both sides squandering opportunities to win in extra time. Konstantinos Mavropanos’ header for Greece rattled the Georgia crossbar, while Giorgi Tsitaishvili was denied at the near post by a fantastic save from Vlachodimos.

This historic victory marks a significant milestone for Georgian football. Not only did they qualify for Euro 2024, but they also achieved a first in their head-to-head record against Greece, avoiding defeat on home soil for the very first time.

Georgia can now look forward to their debut appearance on the major international stage, a testament to the dedication and talent within the national team.