Goal.com, Switzerland
Sept 6 2008
Turkey Start With Two-Goal Victory
Turkey start their World Cup qualifying campaign with a confident away
day victory in Armenia and lived up to their billing as Spain’s main
rivals in Group Five
Goals from Tuncay Sanli and Semir Senturk gave the visitors victory in
a game that saw both countries’ presidents attend as moves were made
to ease political tensions between them.
The Turks were unable to score for an hour however and Armenia proved
that they will be no pushovers on their own ground and the Spanish
will have to be careful.
It was in the 61st minute that the opening came when Tuncay netted
from close range and Senturk doubled that advantage eleven minutes
from time when he capitalised on a defensive mistake.
Turkey had started brightly and had the opening chance with a shot
from Mehmet Aurelio after just four minutes, but his drive was blocked
by Armenia keeper Roman Brezovsky.
In the eighth minute the hosts replied with Volkan Demirei was tested
by Gamlet Mkhitarian’s effort from outside the area.
Emre Delozoglu did go close in the 27th minute with a shot that grazed
the cross bar and and three minutes later Mevlut Erins hit the
side-netting.
Securtity was tight for the encounter, but after the game passed off
without incident the presidential groups all shook hands and applauded
as the players on the pitch swapped shirts.
Lucas Brown, Goal.com
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