1987 FC Guria season
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| 1987 season | |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Giorgi Bakanidze |
| Manager | Mikhail Fomenko |
| Stadium | Guria stadium, Lanchkhuti |
| Top League | 16th of 16 (relegated) |
| Soviet Cup | Round of 32 |
| Top goalscorer | League: Viktor Khlus (5) All: Viktor Khlus (6) |
| Highest home attendance | 23,200 vs Neftchi, 18 May |
| Biggest win | 2–0 v Kairat (home, 3 April) 2–0 v Ararat (home, 20 September) |
| Biggest defeat | 0–3 v Dinamo Minsk (away, 12 April) 0–3 v Torpedo (home, 31 October) |
The 1987 season was the 63rd year in Guria's history and 1st season in the top tier of Soviet football. In addition to the league season, the team also participated in the 1987–88 Soviet Cup.[1]
Following their promotion from the 1986 Soviet First League the previous year, Guria made a debut in the top flight with coach Mikhail Fomenko, several new players and a hastily enlarged stadium. Unlike stadiums across the Soviet republics, it was purely a football arena which underwent a thorough reconstruction within two months in early 1987.[2]
Spartak Moscow who were to become champions this year, began their league campaign at Guria. Having earned a single point in the opening three games, Guria recorded their first top-division victory in round 4 with Merab Megreladze scoring a historic goal against Kairat on 3 April. It was evident though that the team would struggle to retain a place in the league. By mid-season, the Gurians had found themselves rooted to the bottom of the table, winning just one out of eight games held in the summer.[3]
In July, Guria entered the cup competition as well. The team breezed past 2nd division side Rotor at home and took an early lead in the return leg, but conceded three late goals to lose on away goals.[4]
Back in the league, Guria produced an unbeaten run in September (2W, 2D), although failure to beat fellow strugglers CSKA cost them dearly.[5] As a relegation dogfight heated up, they first suffered a 2–0 defeat from Dinamo Tbilisi on 3 October and then went on to lose all remaining matches one after another.
Guria proved yet again to be a home team, beating their rivals in Lanchkhuti only, but a dreadful away form (four points in 15 games) determined their immediate return to the First League.
