Zestaponi steal ahead in Georgia.

FC Dinamo Tbilisi relinquished the lead in Georgia's Umaglesi Liga following their first defeat of the season to be replaced by in-form FC Zestaponi.

New leader
Dušan Uhrin's team had their eight-match winning run brought to a halt by FC WIT Georgia, allowing Zestaponi to seize the initiative courtesy of a 1-0 home victory against FC Merani Tbilisi, their eighth triumph in as many matches. WIT's victory also narrowed the gap between the top two and rest, as the capital-based club moved up to third, five points adrift of Dinamo Tbilisi and six behind Zestaponi.

Eight wins
The attacking trident of Gabon striker Georges Akiremy, Montenegrin Ilija Spasojevic and Giorgi Merebashvili, had propelled Dinamo Tbilisi to the top of the table with 24 goals in eight matches prior to their unexpected setback. However, the trio were unable to break down the WIT defence, who then secured the points with a Levan Razmadze penalty ten minutes from time. That allowed Zestaponi to steal ahead thanks to substitute Zurab Ionanidze's winning goal.

Promising start
Meanwhile, newcomers FC Mglebi Zugdidi and Meskheti FC have made a promising start to life in the top-flight, with Meskheti lying fifth on 17 points and Mglebi a further two points behind. Also sitting pretty are unfancied FC Borjomi, who have won their last three matches to climb up to fourth, two points behind WIT.

No wins
However, the same cannot be said of defending champions FC Olimpi Rustavi and cup holders FC Ameri Tbilisi who are both marooned in mid-table, although Ameri have recovered the situation somewhat by winning two of their last three matches. FC Dinamo Batumi remain the only team without a victory so far, propping up the table with just one point from nine matches.