The 2023 Liga 3 (Georgia) season was the 7th edition under its current title and the 35th edition of third tier football in Georgia. The regular two-round tournament began on 4 April and ended on 1 December[1] with promotion play-offs completed on 10 December. Each team played thirty matches in as many rounds.
| Season | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 4 April – 1 December |
| Champions | Aragvi |
| Promoted | Aragvi Shturmi Rustavi |
| Relegated | Merani-2 Chikhura |
| Matches played | 240 |
| Goals scored | 761 (3.17 per match) |
| Biggest home win | Rustavi 7–0 Guria (7 November) |
| Biggest away win | Chikhura 0–7 Varketili (9 May) Borjomi 0–7 Shturmi (25 October) Merani-2 0–7 Zestaponi (31 October) |
| Highest scoring | Bakhmaro 8–2 Rustavi (17 October) |
| Longest winning run | Shturmi (8 matches) |
| Longest unbeaten run | Shturmi (13) |
| Longest winless run | Chikhura (14) |
| Longest losing run | Chikhura (14) |
← 2022 2024 →
All statistics correct as of 1 December. | |
Gori had the longest tenure in the league with the 7th consecutive season while Meshakhte and Bakhmaro entered into the sixth year. On the other hand, three of the four new members (Locomotive-2, Rustavi and Shturmi) made their debut in Liga 3.
Team changes
editThe following teams have changed division since the previous season:
To Liga 3
editPromoted from Liga 4
Locomotive-2 • Shturmi • Matchakhela
Relegated from Liga 2
From Liga 3
editRelegated to Liga 4
Tbilisi City
Promoted to Liga 2
Teams
edit
Sixteen teams were competing in Liga 3 for the 2023 season. Five of them previously played in the top division, namely Borjomi (2005–09), Chikhura (2012–20), Guria Lanchkhuti (1990–99, 2001–02, 2013–16), Rustavi (2018–19) and Zestaponi (2004–15) with the latter being the two-times national champions.[2] There were also three reserve teams of higher league members this season.
The clubs are listed below in alphabetical order:
| Clubs | Position last season | Location | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aragvia | 3rd | Dusheti | Mtskheta-Mtianeti |
| Bakhmaro | 10th | Chokhatauri | Guria |
| Borjomi | 8th | Borjomi | Samtskhe-Javakheti |
| Chikhura | 16th | Sachkhere | Imereti |
| Gori | 6th | Gori | Shida Kartli |
| Guria | 11th | Lanchkhuti | Guria |
| Irao b | 9th | Tbilisi | Tbilisi |
| Locomotive-2 | 1st in Liga 4 | Tbilisi | Tbilisi |
| Matchakhela | 3rd in Liga 4 | Khelvachauri | Adjara |
| Merani-2 Tbilisi | 13th | Tbilisi | Tbilisi |
| Meshakhte | 14th | Tkibuli | Imereti |
| Rustavi | 7th in Liga 2 | Rustavi | Kvemo Kartli |
| Saburtalo-2 | 7th | Tbilisi | Tbilisi |
| Shturmic | 2nd in Liga 4 | Sartichala | Kvemo Kartli |
| Varketili | 5th | Tbilisi | Tbilisi |
| Zestaponi | 15th | Zestaponi | Imereti |
a Based in Tbilisi, plays at Marakana football ground.
League table
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aragvi (C, P) | 30 | 21 | 5 | 4 | 66 | 21 | +45 | 68 | Promotion to Erovnuli Liga 2 |
| 2 | Shturmi (P) | 30 | 21 | 5 | 4 | 67 | 27 | +40 | 68 | |
| 3 | Rustavi | 30 | 19 | 4 | 7 | 63 | 31 | +32 | 61 | Qualification for promotion play-offs |
| 4 | Varketili | 30 | 19 | 3 | 8 | 54 | 35 | +19 | 60 | |
| 5 | Meshakhte | 30 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 49 | 24 | +25 | 55 | |
| 6 | Irao | 30 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 56 | 41 | +15 | 50 | |
| 7 | Saburtalo-2 | 30 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 45 | 26 | +19 | 45 | |
| 8 | Gori | 30 | 13 | 4 | 13 | 46 | 48 | −2 | 43 | |
| 9 | Guria | 30 | 11 | 6 | 13 | 44 | 55 | −11 | 39 | |
| 10 | Locomotive-2 | 30 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 50 | 42 | +8 | 35 | |
| 11 | Borjomi | 30 | 11 | 2 | 17 | 50 | 78 | −28 | 35 | |
| 12 | Bakhmaro | 30 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 47 | 47 | 0 | 33 | |
| 13 | Zestaponi | 30 | 6 | 11 | 13 | 33 | 46 | −13 | 29 | |
| 14 | Matchakhela | 30 | 8 | 2 | 20 | 38 | 81 | −43 | 26 | Relegation to Liga 4 |
| 15 | Merani-2 (R) | 30 | 4 | 10 | 16 | 30 | 58 | −28 | 22 | |
| 16 | Chikhura (R) | 30 | 2 | 1 | 27 | 23 | 101 | −78 | 7 |
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.
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Results
editRegular season
editPromotion play-offs
edit| Locomotive | 4–0 | Rustavi |
|---|---|---|
Makharoblidze  40' 50' Ozbetelashvili 69' 90+3' |
Report |
| Rustavi | 4–3 | Locomotive |
|---|---|---|
| Toroshelidze 48' Japaridze 80' Nakano 84', 86' |
Report | Molashvili 26' Basheleishvili 43' Ozbetelashvili 50' |
| Varketili | 0–0 | Kolkheti Khobi |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| Kolkheti Khobi | 1–0 | Varketili |
|---|---|---|
| Tsurtsumia 90+4' |
Report |
On 11 January 2024, the Federation announced that following the expulsion of Shukura from the 2nd division to Liga 4, Rustavi would be admitted to replace them next season with Matchakhela also spared from relegation.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "ეროვნული ლიგა 3-ის კალენდარი". fczestafoni.ge (in Georgian). 24 February 2023.
- ^ "Zestafoni retain Georgian Premier League crown". UEFA. 12 May 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ "Liga 3 standings". gff.ge (in Georgian).
- ^ "Liga 3 results". soccerway.com.
- ^ "ეროვნული ლიცენზირების შედეგები". gff.ge (in Georgian ). Retrieved 11 January 2024.