Georgia narrow gap on leaders

Georgia kept alive their outside chance of sealing a play-off place with a 3-2 win away to Armenia in UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying Group 2.

Jano Ananidze, Mate Vatsadze and Nika Kvekveskiri got the goals for Georgia, who had to hang on for victory after substitute Valter Poghosyan pulled Armenia to within one with two minutes to play. The win takes Otar Gabelia's side above Armenia and Estonia into third, five points behind leaders Switzerland, who have played a game more, and within a point of second-placed Turkey, who they meet on 4 September.

Despite the heat in Yerevan, both teams were lively from the start with Armenia enjoying most of the possession in the opening half hour. They were caught on the break, however, on 36 minutes when goalkeeper Edvard Hovhannisyan brought down Vatsadze in the area, allowing Ananidze to convert from the spot.

FC Spartak Moskva midfielder Ananidze was in the thick of the action and five minutes after the restart he crossed for Vatsadze to double the advantage with a header. Henrik Mkhitaryan had twice hit the crossbar before he brought Armenia back into the game from the spot on 78 minutes after Georgia goalkeeper Roin Kvaskhvadze fouled substitute Hovhannes Goharyan.

Within three minutes, though, Kvekveskiri restored Georgia's two-goal advantage after a fine solo run, leaving Poghosyan's late strike no more than a consolation. Armenia are now second from bottom on ten points from nine games and finish their campaign away to Georgia on 7 September.