TBILISI, Georgia (Interstat) — WIT Georgia mounted a dramatic extra-time comeback to defeat crosstown rival Lokomotivi Tbilisi 4-2 in the David Kipiani Cup on Saturday, overcoming a two-goal deficit in a match defined by a flurry of second-half cards and a standout performance from forward Beka Gugberidze.

Playing before a home crowd at Complexe Sportif FCL5, WIT Georgia secured its first victory of the season across all competitions, moving to one win and no losses. Lokomotivi Tbilisi begins its campaign with a loss in both the cup and its overall season record.

The match defied pregame projections, as Interstat’s ELO system had given Lokomotivi Tbilisi a slight edge with a 51.20 percent probability to win. The same service’s game simulator had predicted a far more conservative 1-0 victory for WIT Georgia, a forecast shattered by the six-goal thriller.

Lokomotivi Tbilisi seized control early, with midfielder Beka Dartsmelia opening the scoring in the 24th minute. The visitors doubled their lead just before halftime when defender Aleksandre Andronikashvili found the net in the 45th minute, sending his team into the break with a commanding 2-0 advantage.

The game’s complexion shifted dramatically after halftime, with the official’s whistle becoming a central feature. A flurry of five yellow cards were issued between the 48th and 62nd minutes, three to Lokomotivi Tbilisi players and two to WIT Georgia, disrupting the flow of the match and signaling rising tensions.

The comeback began in the 68th minute when WIT Georgia’s Gugberidze scored his first goal of the evening, cutting the deficit in half and energizing the home side.

The match was forced into extra time after WIT Georgia could not find an equalizer in the remaining minutes of regulation.

Gugberidze completed his brace and leveled the score at 2-2 just four minutes into the first period of extra time, netting his second goal in the 94th minute. His two-goal performance was the key individual effort in the victory.

The match’s physical nature continued into the added periods, with WIT Georgia’s Irakli Zaridze receiving a yellow card in the 104th minute. Lokomotivi Tbilisi’s Andronikashvili, who had earlier scored, was also booked a minute later in the 105th minute.

WIT Georgia found the winning goals deep into the second period of extra time, scoring twice after the 110-minute mark to seal the 4-2 victory. The final two goals completed a stunning reversal after Lokomotivi Tbilisi had led for the majority of the match.

Lokomotivi Tbilisi made a single substitution in the 67th minute, bringing on Fabian Derrick Subi Kizito, just before WIT Georgia began its comeback.

The result provides a winning start for WIT Georgia in the domestic cup competition named for Georgian football legend David Kipiani, while Lokomotivi Tbilisi is left to regroup after letting a strong position slip away.