ARMENIA’S UNDER 21 NATIONAL FOOTBALL SQUAD BEAT PEERS FROM TURKEY 2-1

ARMENPRESS
Aug 21, 2008

YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, ARMENPRESS: Armenia’s under 21 national football
squad upset peers from Turkey on Wednesday in Yerevan 2-1. The two
last goals from Karlen Mkrtchian and Henrik Mkhitaryan denied Turkey
a move to the top of qualifying Group 2.

Turkey needed three points to leapfrog the Czech Republic and take
pole position in the race for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship
play-offs.

The Turks did their best to exploit their best players. The first
goal was scored by Turkey at 66 minute. However, to the delight of
a 12,000-strong crowd at the Hrazdan Stadium in Yerevan, Mkrtchian
finished from a Goharyan free-kick one minute from time, with
Mkhitaryan atoning for his earlier miss in added time by scoring the
second goal.

Armenia has now 10 points, the Czech have 14 and Turkey 13 points.

Foreign minister Edward Nalbandian and president of the Armenian
Football Federation Ruben Hayrapetian met with players after the
match to congratulate them on the brilliant victory.

Speaking at a news conference after the game Turkish head coach Mutif
Erkasap said they were given ‘excellent’ welcome in Armenia. He said
his players expected the game to be too tough and tense, but their
fears did not prove.