Sportinglife.com, UK
March 30 2005
Armenia 2 Andorra 1
A second-half goal from Romik Khachatrian was enough to seal victory
for Armenia in the basement battle with Andorra in European Zone
Group One of the World Cup Qualifying competition.
The Armenians therefore picked up their first win in the qualifiers
and after taking a shock point in their last match with Romania will
travel to Holland for their next test in great heart.
Their French coach Bernard Casoni will have been delighted with his
team’s performance as they were missing both captain Harutyun
Vardanian and top-scorer Artur Petrosian through injury.
However Andorra have now dropped to the bottom of the Group 1 pile at
the expense of their rivals and their week is unlikely to get better
for the minnows from the Pyrenees when they host the Czech Republic
in midweek.
It was all Armenia in the first-half and it was no surprise when they
took a 32nd minute lead as Ara Hakobian beat Andorra goalkeeper Koldo
Alvarez.
The home side then missed a good chance to extend their lead nine
minutes later as midfielder Artavadz Karamian’s header just shaved
the post.
Andorra had only managed a single shot on target in the first period
so it came as something of a shock as they levelled the scoreline in
the 57th minute.
Justo Ruiz’s powerful free kick hit the post and bounced back to
create havoc in the home penalty area.
Fernando Silva was alert to the opportunity and was first to reach
the ball heading home past keeper Roman Berezovsky.
But Armenia were not to be denied and Khachatrian grabbed the winner
in spectacular fashion in the 73rd minute.
The midfielder smashed in a long-range rocket from more than 30 yards
from goal that left Alvarez with no chance.
Andorra, despite this setback, will at least take something from this
qualifying group when they are inevitably eliminated.
Earlier in the competition they beat FYR Macedonia in what was their
first ever victory in a competitive international in their short
footballing history.