Greece advanced to the 2012 European Championship finals following a dramatic 2-1 victory in Georgia on Tuesday evening.
The result meant that Greece topped their group with seven wins and three draws, leaving favorite Croatia in second. Greece therefore qualified directly to Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine, reaching the finals for the third time in succession.
A rather negative performance by the national team for most of the game in Tbilisi saw the Greeks concede a goal after 19 minutes through a direct freekick by David Targamadze that the Greek keeper, Alexandros Tzorvas and his defence appeared to misjudge.
Greece seemed unable to respond and their chances were few and far between until the last 15 minutes, when Georgia were left with 10 men: Their scorer was stretchered off after his coach, Temuri Ketsbaia had made all three substitutions.
Greece coach Fernando Santos had introduced Giorgos Fotakis to replace fellow midfielder Alexandros Tziolis. It was the PAOK player who scored the precious equaliser at the 78th minute as his shot from outside the area was deflected off a Georgian defender into the net.
Then Euro-2004 winner Angelos Charisteas sealed Greece's victory at the 85th minute with a clever shot that beat the Georgian keeper after a Costas Katsouranis pass.
This is the first time Greece have qualified to the finals of a major tournament without conceding a single defeat.
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