SERBIA BEATS ARMENIA 3-0 TO LEAD EURO 2008 QUALIFYING IN GROUP A

Associated Press Worldstream
October 11, 2006 Wednesday

Serbia beat Armenia 3-0 on Wednesday to lead Group A in qualifying
for the European Championship.

Captain Dejan Stankovic converted a penalty kick in the 54th minute
after Armenia goalkeeper Gevorg Kasparov fouled forward Nikola Zigic.

Danko Lazovic made it 2-0 in the 61st with a header on a cross by
Ivica Dragutinovic.

Zigic also headed in the third goal in injury time from a cross by
Lazovic. It was Zigic’s third goal in four qualifiers.

Marko Pantelic missed a penalty in the 14th after Zigic was fouled
again. While Armenia defender Rafael Nazaryan was sent off for two
yellow cards in the 75th.

"We made it hard for us after missing so many chances in the first
half," Stankovic said.

Pantelic, who was replaced in the second half by Lazovic, hit the
post in the 16th.

Armenia, which held Finland 0-0 on Saturday, rarely ventured into
Serbia’s half.

Serbia leads the group with 10 points, two ahead of Finland, which
beat Kazakhstan 2-0 Wednesday.

Lineups:

Serbia: Vladimir Stojkovic; Igor Duljaj, Mladen Krstajic, Milan
Stepanov, Ivica Dragutinovic, Nenad Kovacevic, Aleksandar Trisovic
(Sasa Ilic, 46), Ognjen Koroman (Ivan Ergic, 71), Dejan Stankovic,
Nikola Zigic, Marko Pantelic (Danko Lazovic, 46).

Armenia: Gevorg Kasparov; Sargis Hovsepian, Robert Arzumanian, Karen
Dokhoian, Rafael Nazaryan, Yegishe Melikian, Boris Malkonyan, Agvan
Mkrtcyan, Aram Hakobyan (Artur Minasian, 70), Edgar Manucharyan,
Armen Shahgeldiyan (Nshan Erzrumian, 65.)