Relief for leading pair

Hosts Slovakia recovered from losing their opening game against Georgia to finish top of 2004/05 UEFA European Under-17 first qualifying round Group 5 and progress along with runners-up Lithuania.

Dramatic end
An Adrius Bartkus-inspired Lithuania won their first two games, but conceded the lead when they lost their final fixture 3-1 to Slovakia and faced elimination - only to discover that bottom side Malta had held Georgia 1-1, giving Saulius Vertelis's side a place in the Elite round after all.

Opening wins
But it had all been different when Georgia defeated Slovakia 4-2 in the opening game in Semec. Lukás Opiela gave the hosts a fourth-minute lead, but Akaki Khubutia soon levelled from the spot and Beka Zhghenti put Georgoa up before the break. In the second half, George Tchelidze converted a penalty and then scored again for Georgia on 86 minutes, to leave substitute Peter Snegon's subsequent goal as a consolation. In Trnava, Lithuania overcame Malta 1-0, Bartkus scoring just before the hour, to ensure victory despite team-mate Paulius Vaikasas's late sending-off for a second booking.

Bartkus hat-trick
Slovakia were off the mark two days later in Dubnica Nad Vahom, thanks to a 2-1 win against Malta. Frantisek Viskup and Erik Jendrisek's first-half goals proved enough for Slovakia despite Kenneth Spiteri's strike for Malta eight minutes from time. Meanwhile, Lithuania won a thriller in Trencin 3-2 against Georgia. Lila Kemashvili's 16th-minute goal was cancelled out by Bartkus, but Khubutia struck to restore the Georgian lead. However, Bartkus converted penalties on 63 and 69 minutes to complete a hat-trick to give his nation maximum points.

Slovakian joy
However, Lithuania's winning run ended against Slovakia in Partizanske. Lithuania had to substitute forward Gintas Podelis 15 minutes in and in a four-minute spell around the half-hour mark Vratislav Gajdos and Marek Hamsek both scored for Slovakia. The lead was increased by Peter Snegon early in the second half, and although Bartkus pulled one back seven minutes from the end, his side's failure to reduce arrears further left them knowing that a simultaneous Georgian win against Malta would end Lithuania's campaign on head-to-head goal difference.

Georgia denied
However, Lithuania were to be reprieved, as André Schembri gave Malta a 52nd-minute lead in Senec, and although substitute Nika Gablaia equalised ten minutes from time, Georgia could not fashion a winner and their record will not be enough to take them through as the best third-placed team.