DALAI LAMA FAILS TO INSPIRE DERRY AS PYUNIK HOLD FIRM

Irish Independent
Published: Jul 19, 2007

Derry City 0

Pyunik Yerevan 0

Aidan

Fitzmaurice

NOT even the presence of the Dalai Lama in the city earlier in the day
could create the right mood and the right result at the Brandywell
last night as Derry City were held to a scoreless draw by Armenian
side Pyunik Yerevan.

City, playing in the Champions League for the first time in a decade,
achieved their first objective by keeping a clean sheet against a
Pyunik side packed with Armenian internationals. And the Candystripes,
who scored six goals in two away games in the UEFA Cup last season,
will fancy their chances of hitting the net at least once in the
return leg in Armenia next week.

Some excellent goalkeeping by Pyunik’s Gevorg Ksaparov, combined with
the lack of a killer edge up front by Derry, saw John Robertson’s
side draw a blank.

In the pre-match talk around the city, much was made of the fact that
Pyunik had seven Armenian internationals in their squad, including
the entire back four which featured in a recent Euro 2008 1-0 win
over Poland.

But it was the single senior international in the home side who made
all the running and made all the right moves in the first half, as
Derry’s left winger Paddy McCourt, a one-cap-wonder with Northern
Ireland, was most impressive.

After only six minutes McCourt tested Pyunik ‘keeper Gevorg Kasparov
with a superb run and shot which was tipped out for a corner by the
Armenian netminder.

Yet McCourt was not the only dangerman for City as midfielder Barry
Molloy’s shot needed a good save from Kasparov on 17 minutes, while
on the half-hour mark a Mark Farren cross teed up a chance for Ciaran
Martyn but the Sligo native, just back at Derry after a loan spell
in Norway, didn’t connect.

Pyunik rarely threatened in the first period, apart from a free kick
by Rafael Nazaryan on 31 minutes which forced a save from Pat Jennings.

The visitors were failing to live up to their reputation at this
stage and the cruellest cut came from the Brandywell terraces, jeering
"Are you Finn Harps in disguise?" at the men in blue shirts.

But Pyunik did look more of a threat after the break, especially after
the arrival of sub Felix Hzeina. Both Cameroonian Hzeina and Aghvan
Lazarian caused danger early on in the second half before Hzeina
threw a blatant elbow at Peter Hutton – an offence which deserved
more than a yellow card.

Derry introduced some subs of their own as Kevin Deery and Kevin
McHugh gave the home side some much-needed zest and they regained the
initiative from Pyunik. Martyn had the home side’s best chance on 57
minutes after he was set up by McGlynn but his point-blank shot was
saved by Kasparov, while McHugh was just inches over with a shot,
his first touch of the ball, on 68 minutes.

Defender Ken Oman also went close with a long range shot but City
could not find a way past the impressive Kasparov and the Pyunik
back four and, as Derry prepare for the mammoth trip to Armenia,
they must pray they don’t lose their shooting boots along the way.

DERRY CITY – Jennings, McCallion, Oman, Hutton, Hargan, McGlynn (Deery
57), Molloy, Martyn, McCourt, Farren (Hynes 85), Morrow (McHugh 67).