Switzerland draw a blank in Tbilisi

Georgia - 0 Switzerland - 0:Switzerland lost two valuable points in their Euro 2004 qualifying campaign when the Group 10 leaders were held to a 0-0 draw by Georgia in Tbilisi yesterday.

The Swiss dominated the first half, but Georgia goalkeeper Georgi Lomaia made several good saves to prevent the visitors from scoring.

Lomaia, undoubtedly Georgia's best player on the day, stopped dangerous shots by Ricardo Cabanas and Hakan Yakin in the opening 30 minutes and then denied Swiss captain Stephane Chapuisat with a point-blank save late in the first half.

The Georgians had only one real chance in the first half, but Swiss goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbuhler made a fine save from a deflection following a Georgi Demetradze free-kick.

Demetradze tested Zuberbuhler again shortly after the interval with a dangerous shot from inside the penalty area, but the goalkeeper was again equal to his task.

It was Georgia's first point after they lost their opening two qualifying games. Their coach, Alexandre Chivadze, quit his job following the team's home defeat by the Republic of Ireland on Saturday. Switzerland still lead the group on eight points from four matches, while Georgia are bottom of the standings with one point from three games.

The match was played amid tight security following crowd trouble during Ireland's game there. European soccer's governing body UEFA said it will hold an inquiry into the incidents, in particular the one in which a knife landed close to Kevin Kilbane.

There were no incidents reported at yesterday's game with only a small 8,000-crowd in attendance at Tbilisi's Lokomotivi stadium.

GEORGIA: Lomaia, Khizanishvili, Khizaneishvili, Rekhviashvili, Kvirkvelia, Kemoklidze, Nemsadze (Didava 46), Tskitishvili, Iashvili (Arveladze 46), Kobiashvili, Demetradze (Ashvetia 72). Subs not used: Gvaramadze, Daraselia, Amisulashvili.

SWITZERLAND: Zuberbuhler; Haas, Berner, Muller, M Yakin, Vogel, Cabanas (Cantaluppi 68), Wicky, Frei (Celestini 59), H Yakin (Thurre 90), Chapuisat. Subs not used: Borer, Zwyssig.

Referee: Edo Trivkovic (Croatia).