Gagra FC came from behind to beat FC Metalurgi Rustavi 2-1 in the Georgia Cup on 28 October 2026, booking their place in the next round with a second-half comeback in Tbilisi. A stubborn Rustavi side led early, but Gagra’s persistence and improved control after the break turned the tie around in front of a lively home support.

Cup football often rewards teams who stay patient when the game turns awkward, and that was exactly the story here. Metalurgi Rustavi defended deep and threatened on the break, but Gagra kept probing, equalised before half-time and found the winner just after the hour mark.

Match overview

The visitors started brightly and stunned the home crowd in the 18th minute. A quick break down the left ended with a low cross into the box, and Levan Chikhladze guided the ball past the goalkeeper to give Metalurgi Rustavi a shock lead.

Gagra responded well to the setback. They increased their tempo, pushed their wide players higher and began to dominate possession in the opposition half. The equaliser arrived in the 39th minute when Tornike Salia arrived late in the box to convert a cut-back from the right after a patient passing move.

Key moments

• 18’ – Rustavi lead: Chikhladze finishes a fast counter-attack with a first-time effort from inside the area.
• 39’ – Gagra equalise: Salia side-foots home from close range after a well-worked move down the right.
• 57’ – Rustavi denied: A header from a corner is cleared off the line as the visitors threaten again.
• 64’ – Gagra winner: Giorgi Kapanadze rises highest to head in a free-kick from the left.
• 85’ – Late pressure: Rustavi push bodies forward, but Gagra’s defence holds firm through five minutes of stoppage time.

Tactical story

Metalurgi Rustavi’s game plan was clear from the start: defend in a compact block, deny Gagra space in central areas and strike quickly when turnovers occurred. It worked perfectly for the opening half-hour, as Gagra struggled to find rhythm and were forced into hopeful crosses from wide positions.

Gagra’s adjustment was to play through the wings more deliberately. Their full-backs pushed higher, the midfielders rotated to create overloads on the flanks, and the equaliser came from exactly that pattern — a wide overload followed by a cut-back into the path of a late-arriving midfielder.

After the break, Gagra controlled the tempo. They circulated the ball with more patience, drew Rustavi’s block higher and then attacked the space behind it. The winning goal came from a set piece, but it was earned by the pressure Gagra had built through the second half.

Standout performers

Salia’s equaliser changed the mood of the match, and his movement between the lines caused Rustavi problems all evening. Kapanadze’s winning header was the decisive contribution, but his defensive work at set pieces in the closing stages was equally important.

For Metalurgi Rustavi, Chikhladze was a constant outlet on the counter and took his goal well. The visitors’ goalkeeper also made several important saves to keep the tie alive, particularly during Gagra’s strongest spell at the start of the second half.

What the result means

The win sends Gagra FC into the next round of the Georgia Cup and extends a cup run that is beginning to capture the imagination of their supporters. For Metalurgi Rustavi, the defeat is a painful one, but their performance — organised, disciplined and dangerous on the break — suggests they will be a difficult opponent in league competition.

Gagra will now wait to learn their next cup opponent, while turning their attention back to domestic duties. The comeback will give the squad confidence that they can respond when games do not go their way, a quality that becomes increasingly valuable as the season progresses.