Georgian Cup. Women
The Georgian Women's Cup is a national knockout competition run by the Georgian Football Federation (GFF), pitting top women's clubs against each other for a coveted trophy. It highlights the burgeoning women's game in Georgia, fostering upsets and underdog stories while offering a shot at European qualification.
History and foundation
Launched in the early 2010s alongside the women's league growth, the cup started modestly with 4-6 teams. FC Martvili/Zestafoni claimed the inaugural title in 2018, edging Iberia Tbilisi 2-1 in the final. A standout moment came in 2022 when Saburtalo staged a late comeback in the semis, scoring on 88' and 90'. Post-pandemic revival in 2021 brought format tweaks and youth influx from academies.
Tournament format
Single-elimination knockout from the round of 16, with 8-12 teams from the Women's League competing in one-off ties, often on neutral grounds or home advantage. The final graces Tbilisi's main stadium, drawing up to 2,000 fans. Matches are 90 minutes, extendable to extra time and penalties. It runs March to May, syncing with the league.
Interesting facts
Average goals per game hover at 2.8, favoring defensive battles and counters. Top scorers include Nina Chkhapelia (Martvili, 12 goals over two seasons) and Irakli Meskhi (Saburtalo, 9). Stars: goalkeeper Tamara Kipiani, with countless clean sheets; midfielder Lela Japardize, set-piece wizard now in Turkey; forward Sofia Davitashvili, teen sensation with a 2023 quarterfinal hat-trick. It's a launchpad for European moves.