Georgia round-up: Torpedo take title

FC Torpedo Kutaisi have been crowned champions of Georgia after a dramatic end to the season.

Home win needed
Going into the final game of the campaign a point clear of FC Lokomotiv Tbilisi and FC Dinamo Tbilisi at the top, Torpedo needed to beat Dinamo at home to secure the title. Lokomotiv had the easier fixture on paper with a home match against FC Dinamo Batumi.

Put to the sword
True to form, Lokomotiv put their opponents to the sword, taking a two-goal lead into the break thanks to strikes from David Siradze and Gela Koridze. Zviad Gvazava pulled a goal back before the hour for the visitors but Alexander Kaidarashvili restored the two-goal lead for Lokomotiv after 68 minutes.

Late penalty
Meanwhile in Kutaisi, Torpedo were struggling to find the breakthrough and looked to be facing a final-day heartbreak. Their salvation came 13 minutes from time when they were awarded a penalty and Malkhaz Asatiani held his nerve to send the majority of the 25,000 crowd into raptures.

UEFA Cup berth
Back in the capital, Suliko Davitashvili added two more in the final six minutes to give Lokomotiv a 5-1 win but only second place and a UEFA Cup berth.

Gorda hit five
Elsewhere, FC Merani-91 Tbilisi earned a comfortable 4-1 win at home to FC Kolkheti-1913 Poti while, in the bottom-six play-off, FC Gorda Rustavi climbed above FC Samgurali Tskaltubo and out of the bottom two after a 5-0 final-day victory over FC Guria Lanchkhuti. Goals from David Goderdzishvili (2), Varlam Kilasonia, Cesar Khurodze and Alexander Bukia sealed an easy win.

Endeladze hat-trick
A hat-trick from Zviad Endeladze was enough to claim the points for FC Metalurgi Zestaponi at home to FC Samgurali Tskaltubo. FC Sioni Bolnisi and FC WIT Georgia Tbilisi drew 0-0 in their final fixture.