Associated Press Worldstream
September 6, 2008 Saturday 7:13 PM GMT

Turkey beats Armenia 2-0 in World Cup qualifier

YEREVAN Armenia

Tuncay Sanli and Semih Senturk scored second-half goals Saturday to
give Turkey a 2-0 win at Armenia in World Cup qualifying.

Tuncay gave the visitors the lead in the 61st minute, scoring from
close range. Senturk made it 2-0 in the 79th, capitalizing on a
defender’s mistake in the box.

Mehmet Aurelio had an early chance for Turkey but his powerful shot
from 14 meters (yards) four minutes into the game was blocked by
goalkeeper Roman Berezovsky.

Armenia replied with a chance in the 8th when Volkan Demirel saved
Gamlet Mkhitarian’s drive from 25 meters.

Neither side dominated the game before halftime, but Turkey looked
more organized.

The visitors came close midway through the first half when Emre
Delozoglu shaved the crossbar from the edge of the box in the 27th
minute. Three minutes later, Mevlut Erdins broke down the left flank
only to hit the outer side of the net.

Euro 2008 semifinalist Turkey dominated after the interval.

Arda Turan headed down a cross from the left to set up a goal for
Tuncay. Senturk stole the ball from Alexander Tatevosian in the box to
extend the lead and was close to making it 3-0 in the 81st but failed
to beat Berezovsky one-on-one.

The match was being played against the backdrop of decades of
animosity rooted in the WWI-era atrocities that began in 1915. The two
neighbors have no diplomatic ties. Turkey President Abdullah Gul
attended the match, becoming the first Turkish leader to visit Armenia
since the ex-Soviet nation declared independence in 1991.

On Wednesday, Turkey hosts Belgium and Armenia is at European champion
Spain.

Bosnia-Herzegovina and Estonia are also in Group 5.

Lineups:

Armenia: Roman Berezovsky, Sargis Hovsepian, Robert Arzumanian (Romik
Hachatrian, 40), Alexander Tatevosian, Aghvan Mkrtchian, Levon
Pachagaian, Artur Voskanian, Ararat Arakelian, Artavas Karamian,
Gamlet Mkhitarian (Robert Zebelian, 65), Edgar Manucharian (Arman
Karamian, 76).

Turkey: Volkan Demirel, Servet Cetim, Hakan Balta, Gokhan Zan, Emre
Delozoglu, Gokhan Gonul, Semih Senturk (Gokhan Unal, 83), Arda Turan,
Mehmet Aurelio, Tuncay Sanli (Ayhan Akman, 65), Mevlut Erdins (Kazim
Kazim, 56).