POLAND GO DOWN TO SHOCK DEFEAT IN ARMENIA

Reuters, UK
June 6 2007

YEREVAN, June 6 (Reuters) – Poland lost valuable points in their
Euro 2008 qualifying campaign when they suffered a shock 1-0 Group
A defeat in Armenia on Wednesday.

Hamlet Mkhitaryan fired a free kick into the top corner in the 70th
minute to give the home team their second win in seven games.

Ex-Chelsea manager Ian Porterfield, who took over Armenia’s national
team less than 10 months ago, hailed the victory as one of the biggest
in the history of the former Soviet republic.

"It is a great day for Armenian football," the 61-year-old Scot,
who returned to the job in March after battling intestinal cancer,
told a news conference.

"The whole team played well but I want to say special thanks to
goalscorer Hamlet Mkhitaryan and goalkeeper Gevorg Kasparov. They
deserve special praise."

Despite the defeat the Poles still lead Group A with 19 points from
nine matches, five points ahead of both Portugal and Serbia, who have
two games in hand each, with Finland also on 14 from eight games.