Thrilling end in store for Armenia

Thursday 25 October 2007by Khachik Chakhoyan from
Yerevan

The Armenian league title race is building up to a
thrilling conclusion with just four rounds of matches
left, plus the postponed FC Pyunik versus FC MIKA
fixture, and two points separating the top three
sides.

Ararat resurgence
Pyunik allowed FC Ararat to overhaul them and climb
into first spot, although the champions do have that
game in hand, while FC Banants are third and FC MIKA
still just in contention in fourth. After three
big-margin defeats, Ararat have rediscovered their
quality as they continue their quest for the title.
Despite the departures of key midfielder Gagik
Simonyan plus defenders Hovhannes Harutyunyan and
Harutyun Hovhannisyan, Ararat collected nine points,
scoring 12 goals in the process, from their last three
fixtures including a spectacular 5-4 win against FC
Gandzasar Kapan.

Tough run-in
Du?an Mijiæ’s side are one point clear at the top but
face tough games against Banants, MIKA and Pyunik in
their quest for the title. Pyunik may have the destiny
of the title in their own hands but are under par at
the moment due to serious squad problems. Central
defensive mainstays Robert Arzumanyan and Karen
Dokhoyan were absent through injuries in two recent
league fixtures which told against Banants as Pyunik
lost 3-0, suffering their biggest defeat in two years.
The following 1-0 defeat at MIKA underlined another of
Pyunik’s problem as their numerous Armenian senior and
Under-21 internationals look tired in the closing
stage of the league campaign.

Winning streak
Banants had a chance to top the league after six
straight wins only to lose against lowly FC Ulis
Yerevan unexpectedly. They are still in the title
contention but cannot afford to lose many points in
their last four games that include matches with MIKA
and Ararat. Ulis are seventh on 25 points, trailing FC
Shirak by three points, and have improved
significantly after Simonyan and Harutyunyan arrived
from Ararat as they seek to escape relegation. Nothing
can help FC Kilikia, however, who will be replaced by
FC Dinamo Yerevan in the top-flight next term.