UEFA Europa League Qualifying Round 3
FC Iberia 1999 2 - 1 AET Larne
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots on Target
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
HT
S. Graham 59'
63' J. Jinjolava
↓ M. Gibson ↑P. O'Neill 65'
↓ R. Doherty ↑J. Simpson 65'
65' ↓ G. Kutsia ↑A. Bartishvili
67' N. Sikharulashvili
74' V. Bedoshvili (N. Sikharulashvili)
J. Simpson 76'
77' ↓ B. Kardava ↑I. Alhassan
77' ↓ V. Bedoshvili ↑A. Dzagania
↓ D. Sloan ↑J. McEneff 78'
↓ M. Lusty ↑J. Ukek 78'
84' A. Dzagania
91' ↓ G. Kobuladze ↑N. Bochorishvili
J. McEneff 96'
↓ T. Cosgrove ↑L. Wallace 101'
102' N. Sikharulashvili (N. Dadiani)
↓ S. Graham ↑C. McKendry 106'
D. Bent 106'
112' N. Dadiani
115' ↓ Z. Natchkebia ↑E. Kuliyev
115' ↓ N. Sikharulashvili ↑S. Ende
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
FC Iberia 1999
Goalkeepers
Giorgi Makaridze
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Defenders
Vahid Selimović
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Giorgi Kobuladze
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Aleksandre Amisulashvili
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Jemali Giorgi Jinjolava
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Midfielders
Nikoloz Dadiani
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Giorgi Kutsia
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Bakar Kardava
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Nika Sikharulashvili
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Zviad Natchkebia
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Vakhtang Bedoshvili
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
Tornike Megrelishvili
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Revaz Kurtanidze
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Nikoloz Bochorishvili
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Giorgi Chanturia
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Andria Bartishvili
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Abdullahi Ibrahim Alhassan
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Eldar Kuliiev
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Davit Gogilashvili
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Saba Avdoevi
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Amiran Dzagania
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Stephen Ende
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Lado Chikhradze
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Larne
Goalkeepers
Rohan Ferguson
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Defenders
Tomas Cosgrove
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Matt Ridley
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Aaron Donnelly
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Sean Graham
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Midfielders
Dan Bent
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Ronan Doherty
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Chris Gallagher
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Dylan Sloan
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Forwards
Montel Gibson
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Matthew Lusty
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
Jacob Carney
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Logan Wallace
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
James Simpson
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Joshua Ukek
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Jordan McEneff
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Conor McKendry
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Mark Randall
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Benji Magee
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Paul O'Neill
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Kevin O'Hara
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Saburtalo Grind Past Larne in Gruelling Extra Time Clash
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 33/100. A relentless barrage of set-pieces and sheer territorial dominance finally saw the Georgian side crack a stubborn visiting defence to keep their European dreams alive.
Early Friction
A heavy Stakes rating defined the opening exchanges at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, where the tension of European knockout football was immediately apparent. Fighting for survival in the 3rd Qualifying Round, Saburtalo wasted no time in establishing their absolute control over the tempo and rhythm of the match. They dominated possession with a commanding 68% of the ball, dictating play against a deeply entrenched Larne side who clearly arrived with a primary objective to frustrate. The visitors opted for a highly physical, disruptive approach, committing foul after foul in the opening phases to break up the hosts' passing sequences. Tomas Cosgrove marshalled the Northern Irish defence with grit, but the sheer volume of early attacks left his defensive unit pinned dangerously deep in their own half without an outlet.
The Set-Piece Siege
The lack of Balance on the pitch became staggering as the match wore on and the hosts tightened their grip. Saburtalo essentially set up a permanent camp around the edge of the Larne penalty area, relentlessly forcing an incredible 11 corners over the course of the fixture. Every single delivery added to a crushing wave of set-piece pressure that tested the goalkeeper's nerves and the defenders' aerial capabilities. Shota Nonikashvili pulled the strings masterfully in midfield for the home side, ensuring the ball kept returning to the danger zone whenever it was partially cleared. Despite Larne racking up an astonishing 27 fouls in a desperate bid to survive the ongoing onslaught, the home side eventually broke through, making their overwhelming territorial advantage count heavily on the scoreboard before the regulation whistle.
The Extra Time Slog
With the fixture locked and the score sitting at 2-1 after an exhausting 90 minutes, the sheer Intensity of the contest boiled over into a gruelling extra time period. No further goals arrived during the additional 30 minutes, but the underlying tension was palpable across every inch of the pitch. Larne, completely exhausted from chasing shadows for over an hour and a half, managed to register just a solitary shot on target all evening. Saburtalo professionally and methodically suffocated the remainder of the game, using their vast superiority in ball retention to deny any desperate, late chance of an unexpected Upset. The final whistle ultimately brought massive relief to the home supporters, successfully closing out a brutal, foul-heavy marathon of European qualifying football.
Key Questions
How did Saburtalo break Larne down?
They dominated possession at 68% and used relentless set-piece pressure from 11 corners to finally crack a highly physical Larne defensive block.
Why did the match require extra time?
Despite Saburtalo's overwhelming dominance, a stubborn Larne side committed 27 fouls to successfully disrupt the rhythm and drag the fixture into an extra 30 minutes.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
European Dreams on the Line in Tbilisi
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 41/100. Expect a tense, bruising encounter where progression will be decided by raw determination rather than dazzling attacking quality.
The Setup
When Saburtalo welcome Larne to the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium this August 11, 2026, do not expect champagne football. With a remarkably low Stars rating, this 3rd Qualifying Round tie is strictly about European survival. Both sides arrive with poor Form, turning this clash into a genuine battle of attrition. The Stakes are what drive the narrative here—win and advance to the final playoff round, or see the continental journey end. Saburtalo hold the edge on paper, but Larne will be plotting a classic away upset in this tight affair.
Key Battle
Without standout marquee names to rely on, this match hinges entirely on collective discipline. The crucial battleground will be the middle of the park. Saburtalo’s midfield engine must figure out a way to break down what will undoubtedly be a rigid, deep-sitting Larne back line. If the visitors maintain their shape, they can frustrate the hosts and look to inflict damage on the counter. A modest Balance rating suggests the home side will dominate possession, challenging the away defence to remain flawless for ninety minutes.
Our Prediction
We expect a slow, disjointed game heavily reliant on set-pieces or a momentary lapse in concentration. Saburtalo are the favourites, and their home advantage should eventually wear Larne down. Our take is a narrow, hard-fought 1-0 victory for the Georgian outfit.