Reuters
Oct 13 2007
Serbia held to 0-0 draw at Armenia in Euro qualifier
YEREVAN, Oct 13 (Reuters) – Serbia’s hopes of reaching the Euro 2008
finals suffered a setback when they were held to a 0-0 draw at
Armenia in their Group A qualifier on Saturday.
The result left Serbia fourth with 17 points from 11 matches, level
with third-placed Portugal who were playing at Azerbaijan later on
Saturday.
Poland, who were at home to Kazakhstan in another evening kickoff,
lead the group with 21 points from 11 matches, two more than Finland
who were away to fifth-placed Belgium.
Needing a win to close in on a berth at next year’s tournament, the
Serbs started with an attacking 4-4-2 formation but it was the
Armenians who created the better chances and only poor finishing on a
bumpy pitch denied them a win.
Levon Pachachjan and Samvel Melkonyan tormented the Serbian defence
with darting runs on either flank, the former missing the best chance
in the first half when his volley from eight metres hit goalkeeper
Vladimir Stojkovic in the head.
Armenia keeper Roman Berezovsky did well to keep out shots from Marko
Pantelic and Zdravko Kuzmanovic before the home side’s Artavazd
Karamyan and Aram Hakobyan missed sitters with the goal at their
mercy in the closing stages.