SHAMBOLIC DERRY LET CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DREAM DIE IN ARMENIA

Irish Independent
Published: Jul 26, 2007

FC Pyunik2

Derry City0

FC Pyunik win 2-0 on agg

THEY had a miserable journey to Armenia and the trip home won’t be
much better for Derry after shambolic defending and poor finishing
ended their Champions League campaign at the first hurdle.

A goal in either half was enough to secure victory for Pyunik who
triumphed in sweltering conditions with two goals that exposed
frailties in the Derry rearguard.

And while Derry have every right to feel aggrieved about a valid
penalty shout which went against them shortly before the interval,
the reality is that they have no-one but themselves to blame for their
departure – particularly as they succumbed to a side that made clear
use of their home advantage.

Compare that with Derry who left themselves with a mountain to climb by
failing to play with any penetration in the Brandywell last week and
lacking the guile to unlock an Armenian defence that is not exactly
watertight on this evidence.

Certainly, Pyunik looked a different team on this occasion as they came
out with a definite intention to attack. Their pace caused problems
with right-winger Levan Pachajyan – an Armenian international –
giving Killian Brennan a torrid time.

In the 29th minute, Pachajyan left Brennan for dead during a swift
counter-attack. His cross reached Arsen Avetisyan whose first strike
was brilliantly stopped by Pat Jennings but with Eddie McCallion
hesitant in clearing, the front man netted the rebound.

Derry were left aggrieved after Ciaran Martyn’s run in the 40th minute
looked to have been pulled back by Rafael Nazaryan but the Slovenian
referee waved play on.

Derry started the second half brightly and Darren Kelly headed a
Kevin Deery corner against the crossbar on the hour mark but rather
than building on that momentum, a second goal ended Irish hopes.

Once again, Pachajyan was the architect as his cross found teenager
Gezorg Ghazaryan, who scrambled the ball past Jennings with the aid
of a deflection off Ken Oman.

DERRY CITY – Jennings, McCallion, Oman, Kelly, Brennan; Molloy
(O’Halloran 40), Deery (Higgins 84), Martyn, McHugh, McCourt (Farren
65); Morrow.