Macedonia beats Armenia 3-0 in World Cup qualifying

.c The Associated Press

SKOPJE, Macedonia (AP) – Goran Pandev, Artim Shaqiri and Velice
Sumulikoski each scored as Macedonia beat Armenia 3-0 in a European
World Cup Group 1 qualifier on Wednesday.

Pandev began the home team’s rout before 10,000 at City Stadium by
easily penetrating Armenia’s defense and sending a long shot past
late-reacting Armenia goalkeeper Armen Ambartsumyan.

In the 38th, Macedonia star midfielder Shaqiri used a swift pass from
the left to dribble through the defense for a solo goal.

In the second half, Armenia focused on defense, managing to repel a
barrage of enthusiastic attacks by the Macedonians – but only until
the 90th when Sumulikoski capitalized on a convenient pass from
Pandev.

Armenia captain Hartyun Vardanyan was red-carded in the 72nd. He was
trying to return the ball to his goalie when Pandev sneaked from
behind, snatched the ball and an exasperated Vardanyan pushed
him. Referee Anton Genov of Bulgaria promptly punished the captain.

Lineups:

Macedonia: Petar Milosevski, Vanco Trajanov (Aleksandar Vasovski, 67),
Goce Sedloski, Goran Stavrevski, Vasko Bozinovski, Aleksandar
Mitrevski, Velice Sumulikoski, Draganco Dimitrovski (Igor Jancevski,
46), Mile Krstev, Artim Shaqiri (Goce Toleski, 82), Goran Pandev.

Armenia: Armen Ambartsumyan, Yeghishe Melikyan, Karen Dokhoyan
(Alexander Teteosian, 80), Sargis Hovsebyan, Hartyun Vardanyan, Romik
Khachatryan (Karen Alexandyan, 46), Artur Petrosyan (Ara Hakobyan,
67), Rafayel Nazaryan, Albert Sarkisian, Artavazd Karamyan, Andrey
Movsesyan.

08/18/04 16:31 EDT