1986 FC Guria season
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| 1986 season | |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Shota Pataraia |
| Manager | Begi Sikharulidze |
| Stadium | Central stadium, Lanchkhuti |
| First League | 2nd of 24 (promoted) |
| Soviet Cup | Round of 32 |
| Top goalscorer | League: Besik Pridonashvili (27) All: Besik Pridonashvili (27) |
| Highest home attendance | 16,500 vs Atlantas, 23 October vs Daugava, 26 October |
| Biggest win | 6–1 v Atlantas (home, 23 October) |
| Biggest defeat | 0–4 v Dinamo Stavropol (away, 31 May) 0–4 v CSKA (away, 19 September) |
The 1986 season was the 62nd year in Guria's existence and 7th consecutive season in the 2nd tier of Soviet football. In addition to the league season, the team also participated in the Soviet Cup.[1]
On 12 November 1986, Guria beat Lokomotiv Moscow to achieve their first ever promotion to the top Soviet league. They finished the season on 61 points, their highest in the First League.
Following an unimpressive performance in the previous season which resulted in the 17th place, Guria were hardly expected to become the league favourites in 1986. Initially, CSKA and Daugava seemed firmly among the top teams with the latter reaching a ten-point advantage with ten games remaining. Taking into account the existing regulations which stipulated two points for a win, Daugava appeared on the verge of winning one of the two promotion spots after a twenty-game unbeaten run. However, in the final part they stumbled, picking up only seven points and losing a crunch game at Guria who meanwhile recorded eight wins in the same period. As jubilant crowds stormed the pitch in celebration of this victory, Guria had to relocate for a decisive clash against Lokomotiv Moscow to Batumi where Besik Pridonashvili's late winner sealed a historic achievement for the team.[2]
Guria finished on top of the table, although a 3–1 defeat to Fakel on the final day meant that an additional tie for the first spot would be played between Guria and CSKA who finished the season on equal points.[3]
They achieved the most wins (28) and performed as the strongest home team with 21 wins out of 23. Pridonashvili, who netted 27 times, shared the league goalscorer's award with Pamir's Vazgen Manasyan.
For a provincial center with the population of roughly 9,000, the 1986 season became the most cherished triumph in Guria's history. Manager Begi Sikharulidze and two players later received the Knight of Sport award for this achievement.[4]
