INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT 2008: ARMENIA ON TOP AFTER SECOND DAY: Armenia 2-1 Belarus
By Silvio Vella
Malta Independent Online
Feb 5 2008
Malta
After beating Malta in the first match, Armenia got the better of
favourites Belarus yesterday, to register their second win of the
tournament and go on top of the standings.
The Armenians, well organised and quick on the ball, shrugged off an
early setback for a remarkable comeback that saw them turn the tables,
thanks to an improved second half performance.
As against Malta, substitute Ara Hakobyan proved his side’s match
winner.
Belarus forged ahead after five minutes play when Viachaslav Hleb,
younger brother of the more famous Arsenal player, capitalised on
the Armenia keeper’s gaffe, as he dropped a high ball inside the box,
to knock it over the line.
Past the quarter hour Belarus also hit the post with a Vasiliuk
shot on a Bulyga cross but then conceded Armenia’s equaliser midway
through the half. Following a Lazarian corner kick from the right,
Ararat Arakelyan headed in from close range level matters.
Although play remained mostly balanced, Belarus looked more dangerous
going forward and twice went close before halftime.
On a fast break, Romaschenko went past two opponents but his final
shot was blocked into a corner. On the half hour Blizniuk’s headed
effort on a Hleb cross, was held out by the goalkeeper.
Belarus effected two substitutions after the restart but Armenia
made some considerable improvement, showing a more direct approach
in the second period. Melkonyan shot off target after a good move
and a teasing Hakobyan cross from the right.
Armenia denied their opponents any comfort on the ball and even after
their industrious midfielder Voskanya was substituted, they still
looked slightly faster on the ball than their opponents.
On 78 minutes Hakobyan’s powerful central shot was turned over the
bar by giant keeper Liantsevich, who played instead of Veremko. From
the resultant corner, Ara Hakobyan advanced inside the area from the
right and shot low past the surprised keeper as the ball might have
taken a slight deflection off a Belarus defender who stood in the way.
Two minutes from time, Armenia also had their player Tadeosyan sent off
by referee Zammut for a second caution. But there was little time left
for Belarus to exploit their numerical superiority although they caused
some anxious moments to the Armenia defence in the dying minutes.
* * *
Belarus: A. Liantsevich, A. Kulchy, R. Filipenko, S. Omelyanchuk, P.
Plaskonny (A.Pytsila), V. Bulyga, M. Romaschenko, H. Blizniuk (M.
Asipovich), R. Vasiliuk (A. Paulau), K. Pavluchek, V. Hleb
Armenia: M. Azizyan, K. Dokoyan, R. Hrzumanyan, A. Tadeosyan, A.
Lazarian (G. Ghazaryan), A. Arakelyan, A. Voskanya (K. Aleksanyan),
L. Packaynen (N. Sahakyan), H. Mkhitaryan (A. Hakobyan), K.
Lazarian, S. Melkonyan (A. Edigaryan)
Referee: A. Zammit asst.refs: A. Camilleri, C. Micallef 4th official:
J. Attard
Scorers: V. Hleb, A. Arakelyan, A. Hakobyan
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
