ANDORRA 0 – 3 ARMENIA: ARMENIA AVOIDED FINISHING BOTTOM OF FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP 1

UEFA.com, Switzerland
Oct 12 2005

Armenia avoided finishing bottom of FIFA World Cup qualifying Group
1 as they gained a comfortable victory in Andorra.

Armenia dominate Andorra’s best campaign to date, which had included a
first ever competitive win against F.Y.R. Macedonia, had brought them
five points, and they needed only a draw today to avoid finishing last.

But Armenia, who won the home fixture 2-1, had other ideas and Romik
Khachatryan and Karen Aleksanyan dominated in midfield against a
defensive home formation.

Own goal The visitors were attacking down the wings, and Khachatryan
fired a shot across goal before Valeri Aleksanyan went close following
a corner. With six minutes left in the first half Armenia struck,
Egishe Melikyan crossing from the left and the luckless Óscar Sonejee
turning the ball into his own net.

Lead doubled Before half-time Andorra were down to ten men, Ildefons
Lima dismissed for dissent. With an extra player Armenia tightened
their grip on the game and Ara Hakobyan had a shot saved before his
brother Aram made it 2-0, converting Hamlet Mkhitaryan’s cross on
the half-volley in the 52nd minute.

Victory sealed Ara Hakobyan got on the scoresheet ten minutes later
with a good run and shot from the edge of the area. Armenia did
not add to their lead despite some intricate moves, but ended their
campaign on a high as both countries now look towards the UEFA EURO
2008~Y draw on 27 January 2006.

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