PYUNIK HOLD DOMINANT DINAMO

UEFA.com
ucl/fixturesresults/round=2000025/match=2000287/re port=rp.html
July 14 2009

FC Pyunik and NK Dinamo Zagreb played out a goalless draw in the
first leg of their UEFA Champions League second qualifying round tie
despite a number of chances for both teams.

Bright opening The Armenian and Croatian champions both started
brightly despite soaring temperatures in Yerevan. The visitors came
with the greater reputation and looked more dangerous early on but it
was Pyunik who forged the first real opportunity when Markos Pizzelli
found himself through on goal following Dejan Lovren’s mistake, only
for goalkeeper Tomislav Butina to save his shot. At the other end,
Dinamo were reduced to attempts from distance by solid defending,
yet Edvard Hovhannisyan still had to react quickly to parry a wicked
Milan Badelj effort after 32 minutes.

Pyunik pushed back The home side’s No1 then denied Sammir from close
range shortly after the restart, before Butina had to stretch himself
to deny Pizzelli. With Dinamo dominating possession, Pyunik played on
the counterattack and came close to scoring through captain Sargis
Hovsepyan on 73 minutes, with a last-ditch tackle ultimately ending
his run. Substitute Miroslav SlepiÄ~Mka and Igor BiÅ¡can then went
close for Dinamo in the closing moments, leaving their opponents the
chance to spring an upset in Zagreb next week.