Armenia 2-2 Estonia: Ghazarian earns point
Updated: March 28, 2009, 3:00 AM ETA late goal from substitute Gevorg
Ghazarian saw Armenia pick up their first point in the World Cup
qualifiers as they held Estonia to a draw today to finally get off the
mark in Group Five.
Henrikh Mkhitarian put Armenia ahead in the 33rd minute but their lead
lasted just five minutes before Konstantin Vassiljev equalised.
Sergei Zeniov’s 67th-minute goal looked to have won it for Estonia but
Ghazarian pounced three minutes from time to clinch a point for
rock-bottom Armenia.
The game got off to a slow start as both sides tried to get an early
goal but neither managed to get a sight of the target.
The first real shot of the game was not until the 21st minute as Joel
Lindpere saw his shot beat Armenia goalkeeper Roman Berezovsky but
crash back off the left-hand post.
Armenia drew first blood shortly after the half-hour mark as
Mkhitarian’s powerful shot ricocheted slightly off Estonia defender
Taavi Rahn’s foot, over Sergei Pareiko’s head and into the back of the
net.
However, Estonia were back on level terms just five minutes later when
Vassiljev latched onto Martin Vunk’s pass and fired a powerful volley
home from 25 yards.
Armenia started the second half in determined fashion but it was
Estonia who were to take the lead with some route-one football in the
67th minute.
Pareiko sent a long goal-kick straight to Zeniov who rounded
Berezovsky before slotting the ball into the empty net.
The hosts strove desperately for the equaliser and both Mkhitarian and
Artavazd Karamyan were denied by Pareiko.
However, just as it looked as though Estonia were to pick up their
first victory of the campaign, Ghazarian fired past Pareiko and
although Rahn attempted to hook the ball clear, the linesman adjudged
the ball to have crossed the line and awarded the goal.