World Cup: Finland beats Armenia 2-0
Associated Press Worldstream
September 8, 2004 Wednesday
YEREVAN, Armenia — Mikael Forsell and Alexei Eremenko Jr. scored a
goal each to lift Finland to a 2-0 victory over Armenia in a World
Cup qualifier Wednesday.
It was the second consecutive win in European Group 1 for Finland
after losing an away opener 2-1 to Romania and beating Andorra 3-0.
Finland controlled the game and Forsell put the visitors on the
scoreboard in the 24th minute, when he fired from the left corner of
the penalty box past Armenian goalkeeper Armen Ambartsumyan into the
left corner of the goal.
The home side came close to equalizing in the 45th minute – its only
clear chance before the interval – but Artur Petrosyan’s header off
a corner kick was blocked by Finland goalkeeper Antti Niemi.
Eremenko beat Ambartsumian one-on-one into the left corner to make
it 2-0 in the 68th minute.
Four minutes later, second-half substitute Pehha Lagerblen had a
chance to make it 3-0 when he made his way past three defenders but
his lob over Ambartsumian missed.
Edgar Manucharyan, who came on as a substitute for Albert Sargsyan
in the 54th minute, nearly scored with a solo effort from the center
of the pitch, but his shot from inside the box shaved the right post.
Lineups:
Armenia – Armen Ambartsumian, Yeyshine Melikyan, Karen Dokhoyan, Sargis
Hovsepyan, Artur Lazarian, Romik Khachatryan, Artur Petrosyan, Rafael
Nazaryan (Karen Aleksanyan, 73), Albert Sargsyan (Edgar Manucharyan,
54), Artavazd Karamyan (Davit Grigoryan, 79), Andrey Movsesyan.
Finland – Antti Niemi; Petri Pasanen, Sami Hyypia, Mika Vayrynen,
Mika Nurmela, Mikael Forsell, Jari Litmanen (Pehha Lagerblien, 46),
Joonas Kolkka (Antti Pohja, 85), Toni Kuivasto, Aki Riihilahti,
Alexei Eremenko Jr (Peter Kopteff, 73).
Referee – Paulius Malzinskas, Lithuania.