Northern Ireland remain top of League B Group 2 in the UEFA Nations League after registering a second goalless draw within a gruelling quadruple header.
In the fourth and final instalment of the hectic schedule they were held 0-0 by Georgia at the Clearer Twist National Stadium at Windsor Park tonight.
Northern Ireland had chances to win the game but just could not get the goal their all-round play deserved.Georgia keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili pulled off a string of decent saves.
However, Michael O’Neill’s side remain top of B2 with eight points from four games. Hungary, whom they drew 0-0 against last Monday, are second with seven points, while Ukraine have four points and Georgia have two.
Next month Northern Ireland face Ukraine, whom they defeated 3-0 away on Friday, and the Hungarians in their final two group matches. Those games are in Belfast and Budapest respectively.
The Northern Ireland starting XI showed three changes from the team that started the 3-0 win against Ukraine on Friday night. Justin Devenny, Ethan Galbraith and Paddy Kelly came in for Terry Devlin, Brodie Spencer and Kieran Morrison.
And new Georgia boss Ramaz Svanadze made four changes from the team that started the 1-0 defeat to Northern Ireland in match one of the quadruple header in Tbilisi 11 days ago.
In the early exchanges tonight Pierce Charles came flying off his line to claim the ball as Otar Kakabadze whipped a cross into the danger zone.
A Shea Charles cross was cleared by the Georgian defence before Mamardashvili stretched to push away a free-kick delivery from Justin Devenny.
The Georgian defence had to be on their toes again to clear another Devenny free-kick.
There was some lovely inter-play between Ethan Galbraith, Shea Charles and Isaac Price as Northern Ireland pushed forward.
A low Price cross was hoofed away by a Georgian defender, while a header from Budu Zivzivadze was coolly dealt with by Pierce Charles.
A Devenny cross found Ruairi McConville in the area and his header was pushed away by the Georgian keeper. Then Paddy Kelly had a shot blocked inside the area.
On 29 minutes Pierce Charles got down superbly to keep out a snapshot from Zuriko Davitashvili.
A minute later Tom Atcheson made a superb run deep into opposition territory. He slipped the ball to Price who cleverly backheeled it to Devenny. His cross was fired towards the six-yard box but unfortunately it evaded a couple of Northern Ireland attackers.
Jamie Donley swivelled on a loose ball inside the area and tried to chip the keeper. Mamardashvili managed to grab the ball under the bar.
In the 38th minute Atcheson got on the end of a Charles corner but could only guide his header over the bar.
Hume fed Price down the right and his lofted cross was grabbed by the Georgian keeper.
Hume then put Kelly in down the right. The midfielder raced towards goal and cut the ball back, only for the Georgian defence to clear their lines.
In injury time at the end of the half Donley was upended just outside the area. Price stepped up and swept the free-kick inches past the post.
At the start of the second half Donley scooped a shot well over the top before Ciaron Brown’s cross flicked off Atcheson’s back and the ball was punched clear by Mamardashvili.
McConville met a Pierce Charles delivery from a free-kick inside the area, however his header was straight at the keeper.
Pierce Charles was called into action when he stopped a deflected shot from Georgia substitute Giorgi Tsitaishvili.
Georgia captain Khvicha Kvaratskhelia produced a bit of magic when he raced down the left flank, leaving Atcheson trailing in his wake. His final ball let him down though.
In the 80th minute Kvaratskhelia had another penetrating run into the heart of the Northern Ireland defence. He got a shot off this time but it flew over the bar.
Shea Charles nicked the ball off a Georgian defender and slipped it to substitute Josh Magennis inside the area. He let fly but the Georgian keeper pushed out the striker’s low drive for a corner.
From the resulting corner there was chaos inside the area. In the midst of the melee McConville was kicked in the face as he headed the ball against the bar.
After a VAR check referee Sebastian Gishamer pointed to the spot and brandished a yellow card to Georgia substitute Nodar Lominadze for kicking McConville.
Price stepped up to take the penalty but his low strike was saved by Mamardashvili.
Northern Ireland pushed for a winner in the closing stages.
Ciaron Brown got on the end of a Shea Charles free-kick, however he missed the target.
And then the captain glided past a couple of defenders inside the area before curling a shot past the post.
Georgia had a couple of corners in added time but the Northern Ireland defence held firm once again, impressively registering their fourth clean sheet in the quadruple header.
Northern Ireland: Pierce Charles, Trai Hume, Justin Devenny, Tom Atcheson, Ruairi McConville, Ciaron Brown, Ethan Galbraith, Shea Charles (captain), Jamie Donley, Isaac Price, Patrick Kelly.
Substitutes: (used) Brodie Spencer, Josh Magennis, Kieran Morrison, Paddy McNair, Callum Marshall; (unused) Conor Hazard, Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Dion Charles, Michael Forbes, Terry Devlin, Jordan Thompson, Ceadach O’Neill, Paul Smyth, Kieran Morrison.
Georgia: Giorgi Mamardashvili, Otar Kakabadze, Gizo Mamageishvili, Saba Sazonov, Lasha Dvali, Luka Lochoshvili, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (captain), Giorgi Kochorashvili, Zuriko Davitashvili, Anzor Mekvabishvili, Budu Zivzivadze.
Substitutes: (used) Giorgi Tsitaishvili, Giorgi Chakvetadze, Nodar Lominadze, Irakli Egoyan, Georges Mikautadze; (unused) Davit Kereselidze (GK), Luka Gugeshashvili (GK), Saba Goglichidze, Saba Lobjanidze, Saba Kharebashvili, Giorgi Kvernadze, Giorgi Gagua.
Action from National Stadium
