ARMENIA 2-1 BELGIUM: RED DEVILS IN CRISIS AS HOSTS ENJOY HISTORIC WIN
Goal.com
Sept 9 2009
A disastrous result for the visitors in Yerevan…
Sep 9, 2009 6:52:22 PM
Armenia 2-1 Belgium Lineups/Stats European World Cup Qualification
Fixtures, Results
Belgium crashed out of contention for World Cup qualification after
Armenia enjoyed their first competitive win since June 2007.
Hovhannes Goharyan and Sargis Hovsepyan hit the decisive strikes on
either side of the break to make it four points for the campaign and
knock the Red Devils formally out of the competition.
The first period saw few chances for the hosts and none at all for
the Belgians. To the Armenians’ credit they took one of theirs,
Goharyan netting after his first shot was rebounded back at his feet.
Timmy Simons prevented the Belgians from adding a second shortly
afterwards as the hosts turned up the pressure.
For the second goal, just after the restart, captain Hovsepyan
waltzed through the static Belgian defence before slipping the ball
past Gillet.
The visitors were in panic mode, but they struggled to turn their
urgency into opportunities.
Indeed, their consolation goal came in the very last minute as Daniel
Van Buyten netted at the death.
This, though, will not save the players and departing coach Franky
Vercauteren from the wrath of the fans after suffering a defeat to
a side half their FIFA placing, 125 to Belgium’s 62.