ARMENIA’S DREAMS GO DOWN IN FLAMES
Khachik Chakhoyan from Yerevan

uefa.com
Aug 5 2008
Switzerland

The 2008/09 European season proved to be a dispiriting one for Armenian
clubs with all falling at the first hurdle with an aggregate defeat
of 19-3.

Brutal awakening

Four Armenian league sides were involved in the opening rounds
of the UEFA Intertoto Cup, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup and
none survived their opening fixtures. Of the eight games played by
Armenian clubs in European competition, six were lost and two were
drawn. Given the progress made at international level in recent years,
it was a brutal disappointment.

Away goals FC MIKA’s defeat by FC Tiraspol in the opening final UEFA
Intertoto Cup was almost a good result in the context. At home,
they surrendered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2, and then dominated the
return leg in Moldova, losing on away goals after the match ended
goalless. Captain David Grigoryan fumed: "We were the better side. We
paid for our failure to convert chances. Those goals we let in at
home cost us dear."

Anorthosis strength Champions FC Pyunik took their 3-0 aggregate UEFA
Champions League first qualifying round loss to Cyprus’s Anorthosis
Famagusta FC on the chin. "We were beaten by strong opponents,"
said president Karen Harutyunyan. "Our players did their best but
Anorthosis had quality and skill. We have mostly young players and
such games are very useful for the future."

Banants mauled Banants could not put such a positive spin on their
10-0 aggregate UEFA Cup first qualifying round mauling at the hands of
FC Salzburg. "We put a black spot on the reputation of Armenian clubs
in Europe," conceded president Sargis Israelyan. "Our opponents were
a cut above and our young team were not ready for such games. The 17
and 18-year-olds were lost. It was a useful lesson for us."

‘Not enough’ Ararat fared slightly better against AC Bellinzona in
the same competition, losing 1-0 at home but playing well in a 3-1
away defeat. "We had one of our best games in Switzerland, but we
were not clinical up front again," said coach Varuzhan Sukiasyan. "I
liked the lads’ commitment. They did their best, but that was not
enough." A fitting epitaph for the Armenian clubs’ campaign, perhaps.