Norway Overcome Armenia in UEFA U19 finals
Report by Fred Magee
Soccer Central, Ireland
July 18 2005
Both teams started briskly with Armenia having a penalty claim for hand
ball turned down in the 4th minute. One minute later the Armenian No
11, Edgar, shot wide from a great position, and then 2 minutes after
that Norway, in their first real attack, had a dangerous corner kick
punched away by the Armenian keeper, Apoula Eddima Bete.
Norway continued to show more aggression and continued to dominate
the play. On 22 minutes came the gaol that the game needed. Aoudia
cleverly lobbed the ball into the far corner of the net, just managing
to escape the outstretched hands of the goalkeeper.
Armenia tried to take the game to Norway and almost levelled the
game just 5 minutes later when a Norwegian defender narrowly headed
just past his own post. Norway remained in control up until the half
time whistle.
Norway continued to dictate the play from the restart and although
Armenia’s passing was good they had no fire power up front to trouble
the well organised Norwegian defence.
Armenia had a half chance when No 9 Petrosyan cleverly beat two men
only to finish with a weak shot straight at the keeper.
Aoudia continued to pose a threat and indeed could have had a hat
trick with a little more luck.
Armenia made a substitution in the 64th minute in hope of injecting
some sort of threat but as the game went on the Norwegians just got
stronger and more confident.
In the 68th minute the game was all but over when Nisja scored with a
fierce shot to make it 2-0. Play was almost all one way by now with
the Norwegian ‘keeper almost a spectator for the last 30 minutes.
Only a free kick from Petrosyan, which the ‘keeper saved at the second
attempt was on any note from Armenia after that.
This was a convincing victory for Norway and they paid a fitting
tribute to their small band of supporters following the final whistle
when the whole team came over to the stand to acknowledge them.