The 2022 Erovnuli Liga 2 was the sixth season under its current title and the 34th season of second-tier football in Georgia. The four-round competition began on 1 March and ended on 2 December[1] with playoffs completed on 12 December.

Erovnuli Liga 2
Season2022
Dates1 March – 2 December
ChampionsShukura (5th title)
PromotedShukura
Samtredia
RelegatedRustavi
Dinamo Zugdidi
Shevardeni-1906
Matches played112
Goals scored349 (3.12 per match)
Top goalscorerLevan Papava
(17 goals)
Biggest home winSamtredia 6–0 Merani T (26 June)
Biggest away winWIT Georgia 1–5 Spaeri (28 August)
Merani T 0–4 Spaeri
(1 October)
Merani M 0–4 Shukura
(22 October)
Rustavi 1–5 Spaeri
(1 November)
Highest scoringWIT Georgia 5-3 Merani M
(9 October)
Longest winning runSamtredia
(6 games)
Longest unbeaten runSpaeri (9)
Longest winless runWIT Georgia (12)
Longest losing runWIT Georgia (5)
2021
2023
All statistics correct as of 10 December 2022.

Format

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The winner gain automatic promotion to Erovnuli Liga, while the next two teams participate in play-offs against their top-flight rivals.

After the initial 13 rounds, an extraordinary situation in late May resulted in early relegation of two clubs to the third tier. Among the remaining eight clubs the bottom two enter a play-off contest against 3rd and 4th teams of Liga 3 at the end of the season. A two-legged tie will be played at each side's home ground.[2]

Each team played 28 matches in this shortened season.

Team changes

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The following teams have changed division since the 2021 season:[3]

Teams and stadiums

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The participants of Liga 2 this season are listed below in alphabetical order.

Apart from Gareji Sagarejo and Spaeri Tbilisi, all of them have previously taken part in the main division. Among them are WIT Georgia and Samtredia, who have been the top-tier champions.[4]

Club Position last season City Venue Capacity
Dinamo Zugdidi 7th Zugdidi Ganmukhuri, Centraluri 2,000
Gareji 4th Sagarejo Centraluri 2,000
Merani 3rd Martvili Murtaz Khurtsilava Stadium 2,000
Merani 5th Tbilisi Spaeri 2,500
Rustavi 9th Rustavi Technical Centre 1,000
Samtredia 10th in Liga 1 Samtredia Erosi Manjgaladze Stadium 5,000
Shevardeni-1906 6th Tbilisi Kaspi, Centraluri 500
Shukura 9th in Liga 1 Kobuleti Chele Arena 6,000
Spaeri 1st in Liga 3 Tbilisi Spaeri 2,500
WIT Georgia 8th Tbilisi Gldani Football Centre 1,000

Source

NOTE: Based on decision made by GFF Disciplinary Committee, Dinamo Zugdidi and Shevardeni-1906 were accused of match-fixing and expelled from the league with immediate effect on 22 May. For this reason all their team or individual records have been annulled from the statistics.[5]

Personnel and kits

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Club Captain Head Coach Manager's date
of appointment
Kit
manufacturer
Dinamo Zugdidi Vakhtang Jomidava Jano Makatsaria January 2022   Kelme
Gareji Nikoloz Nozadze Giorgi Oniani September 2022   Erreà
Merani Martvili Kichi Meliava Varlam Kilasonia July 2022   Joma
Merani Tbilisi Iago Deisadze Avtandil Shengelia September 2021   Jako
Rustavi Paata Kiteishvili Valeri Abramidze November 2022   Kelme
Samtredia Givi Ioseliani Giorgi Shashiashvili February 2022   Joma
Shevardeni-1906 Nikoloz Jishkariani Giorgi Daraselia February 2022   Kelme
Shukura Irakli Komakhidze Revaz Gotsiridze January 2022   Kelme
Spaeri Levan Papava Kakha Maisuradze 2017   Kelme
WIT Georgia Irakli Zaridze Levan Jobava June 2021   Erreà

Managerial changes

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Team Outgoing manager Date of vacancy Incoming manager
Shevardeni-1906 Ioseb Chikadze 9 March Davit Datuadze
Davit Datuadze 1 April Giorgi Daraselia
Gareji Sagarejo Kakhaber Gogichaishvili 8 April Nestor Mumladze (Interim)
Nestor Mumladze 7 May Temur Makharadze
Temur Makharadze 12 June Davit Dighmelashvili
Davit Dighmelashvili 30 September Giorgi Oniani
Rustavi Armaz Jeladze 3 May Levan Jokhadze
Levan Jokhadze 2 November Valeri Abramidze
Merani Martvili Tsotne Moniava 15 July Varlam Kilasonia

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Shukura Kobuleti (C, P) 28 19 3 6 52 23 +29 60 Promotion to Erovnuli Liga
2 Spaeri 28 15 6 7 57 35 +22 51 Qualification for Promotion play-offs
3 Samtredia (P) 28 14 6 8 43 28 +15 48
4 Merani Martvili 28 12 6 10 55 53 +2 42
5 Gareji Sagarejo 28 10 6 12 38 36 +2 36
6 Merani Tbilisi 28 10 4 14 34 56 −22 34
7 Rustavi (R) 28 6 5 17 34 54 −20 23 Qualification for Relegation play-offs
8 WIT Georgia 28 5 6 17 30 58 −28 21
9 Dinamo Zugdidi (R) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Clubs Expelled to Liga 3
10 Shevardeni-1906 (R) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Source: [6]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored. On 21 May, the GFF announced the expulsion of Shevardeni-1906 and Dinamo Zugdidi from League 2 for match fixing and betting fraud. All matches they played have been annulled.
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Results

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Regular season

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Results by round

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In order to preserve chronological progress, postponed matches are not included in the round at which they were originally scheduled. Instead they are added to the full round played immediately afterwards.

Team ╲ Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728
GarejiLLDDDDLDLLWWLWLWLWLWWLLDWWWL
Merani MWWLWWWLDDWDLLDWWWLWLLWLDDLLW
Merani TWWDWLWLDWLDWLLWLLWWLLWLLDLLL
RustaviLDWLLLLDLWLDLDLWLWDLLLWLLWLL
SamtrediaDDLWLDLWWDDWLWDLWLLWWWWWWLWW
ShukuraWWWWLDWWDWLWWWWLWLWLWWWWDWLW
SpaeriLDLLWWWDWDWWDLDWWWLWLLWWDWWW
WIT GeorgiaDLDLDWWLLLDLLDLLLLDWWLLLLLWL
Updated to match(es) played on 2 December. Source: Georgian Football Federation
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Lose

Statistics

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Top scorers

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As of 2 December 2022

Rank Player Club Goals
1   Levan Papava Spaeri Tbilisi 17
2   Cheikne Sylla Merani Martvili 16
3   Giorgi Kharebashvili Gareji Sagarejo 12
4   Zurab Museliani Shukura Kobuleti
5   Bantu Mzwakali Rustavi 9
6   Amiran Dzagania WIT Georgia 8
7   Dato Kirkitadze Samtredia
8   Papuna Poniava Merani Martvili
9   Cyrille Tchamba Samtredia 7
10   Levan Ingorokva Shukura Kobuleti

Source

Assists

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As of 2 December 2022
Rank Player Club Assists
1   Giorgi Janelidze Shukura 9
2   Giorgi Kharebashvili Gareji 7
3   Cotne Patsatsia Merani Martvili
4   Levan Tsotsonava Merani Martvili
5   Levan Papava Spaeri
6   Giorgi Koripadze Samtredia

Source

Clean sheets

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As of 2 December 2022
Rank Player Club Clean sheets
1   Luka Kharatishvili Shukura 13
2   Konstantine Sepiashvili Gareji 6
3   Yaroslav Burychenkov Samtredia
4   Guram Chikashua WIT Georgia 5
5   Davit Kupatadze Gareji 4
6   Nikoloz Abashidze Spaeri
7   Facundo Silva Samtredia

Source

Hat-tricks

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As of 2 December 2022

Player For Against Result Date
  Jaba Kasrelishvili Merani Tbilisi Rustavi 3–2 (H)[7] 1 April
  Yuta Nakano Rustavi Merani Tbilisi 4–0 (H)[8] 28 August

Discipline

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Red cards

As of 2 December 2022

Merani Tbilisi – 6

Spaeri – 5

Merani Martvili, Gareji – 3

Source

Promotion playoffs

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Samtredia1–0Sioni
Kilasonia   79' (pen.) Report
Referee: G.Kruashvili
Sioni0–2Samtredia
Report Tchamba   9', 74'
Referee: D.Kharitonashvili

Samtredia won 3–0 on aggregate.


Gagra2–0Spaeri
Nozadze   8'
Makatsaria   63'
Report
Referee: I.Kvirikashvili
Spaeri3–1 (a.e.t.)Gagra
Tsatskrialashvili   35'
Papava   48' (pen.), 98'
Report Makatsaria   95' (pen.)
Penalties
 Papava
 Mathenjwa
 Khojanashvili
  Odishelidze
 Kirkitadze
 Askurava
4–5   Khositashvili
  Lomtadze
  Sultanishvili
  Lominadze
  Parulava
 Shetsiruli
Spaeri Stadium, Tbilisi
Referee: J.Khorava

Spaeri lost on penalties.

Relegation playoffs

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WIT Georgia0–0Aragvi
Report
Gldani Football Centre, Tbilisi
Referee: G.Avazashvili
Aragvi0–1WIT Georgia
Report Nachkebia   45'
Marakana, Tbilisi
Referee: B.Ninua

WIT Georgia won 1–0 on aggregate and remained in the league.


Kolkheti Khobi1–0Rustavi
Chedia   8' Report
Paata Tatarishvili Stadium, Khobi
Referee: G.Kikacheishvili
Rustavi0–1Kolkheti Khobi
Report Toradze   72'
Technikuri Centri, Rustavi
Referee: A.Nonikashvili

Rustavi lost 0–2 on aggregate and suffered relegation.

References

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  1. ^ "ქართული საფეხბურთო სეზონის დაწყების თარიღი ცნობილია". sportall.ge (in Georgian), 12 Jan 2022.
  2. ^ "სფფ-ში აღმასრულებელი კომიტეტის სხდომა გაიმართა". gff.ge (in Georgian), 22 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Liga 2 in 2021". eliga.ge.
  4. ^ "Georgian Football League Champions by Year". myfootballfacts.com.
  5. ^ "ზუგდიდის "დინამო" და თბილისის "შევარდენი 1906" ჩემპიონატიდან მოკვეთეს". ajaratv.ge (in Georgian), 22 May 2022.
  6. ^ "Erovnuli Liga 2, Table". erovnuliliga.ge.
  7. ^ "Merani T vs Rustavi". gff.ge.
  8. ^ "Rustavi vs Merani T". gff.ge.
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