Valeri Kazaishvili put the brakes on the Republic of Ireland's charge towards the World Cup finals as they had to make do with a 1-1 draw in Georgia.
The midfielder cancelled out Shane Duffy's early opener, the first goal of his senior international career, before the break to leave the Republic hanging on on a steamy night in Tbilisi.
Ireland boss Martin O'Neill had admitted before kick-off that the Group D clash was not so much a "tricky" affair as a "really, genuinely difficult" one, and so it proved as Georgia did everything within their powers to secure a first win of the campaign.
The Republic, who had won all eight previous meetings between the sides, started strongly and ended on the front foot with three out-and-out strikers on the pitch, but did too little in between to warrant anything more than a draw.
Indeed, the Georgians among a small but noisy crowd at the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena will feel a point was significantly more than the visitors deserved, although substitute Aiden McGeady wasted a glorious opportunity to win it late on. It was a different story to three years ago, when a late McGeady goal at the same stadium secured three points.
Ireland headed for home knowing Tuesday's clash with Serbia at the Aviva Stadium has assumed even greater proportions as a result of their result in Tbilisi, and that there is still a long way to go in the group in which they sit second, behind their next opponents.
Sky Bet now make Republic of Ireland odds-against at 11/10 to qualify for the World Cup.
Post-match reaction
James McClean admitted it had been a lacklustre Republic of Ireland display.
"It's been a disappointing night," he told Sky Sports Football.
"Just not good enough on the night to be honest.
"All around we weren't good enough: our passing, our energy, our defending, our finishing.
"They're a lot better than what people think when you look at their results through the group.
"Saying that I believe we're better, but tonight we didn't show that - all over the pitch they were better, passed the ball better.
"We'll have better nights; hopefully one of those will be on Tuesday."
Manager Martin O'Neill concurred that his side would have to improve ahead of Tuesday's fixture at the Aviva Stadium.
"It's disappointing because of the performance but we're still in it," he said.
"We did not close down strongly and then when we did have it we gave it away too cheaply which is not a great sign.
"If you analyse it in terms of chances we've had four really good chances to win the game.
"We need to do better because we're up against a very talented side in Serbia on Tuesday night.
"We're going to try and win the game."
