UNDER-21 ARMENIA 4 — REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 1

Sport News
November 17, 2009 Tuesday 3:03 PM BST

The Republic of Ireland Under continued their winless run in Group 2
of the Under-21 European Championship as Henrik Mkhitaryan plundered
a hat-trick to fire Armenia to a comfortable win in front of their
own fans.

Led for the first time by MK Dons midfielder Stephen Gleeson, the
Republic fell behind to Mkhitaryan’s opener after half-an-hour’s play.

Mkhitaryan made it 2-0 to the hosts in the 61st minute before
Plymouth’s Cillian Sheridan gave his side a lifeline four minutes
later, turning in James O’Shea’s cross.

Armenia continued to enjoy the best of the game, though, and
re-established a two-goal gap through Hovhaness Goharyan’s 20-yard
strike with 15 minutes to play.

Mkhitaryan slotted in a fourth, and his third, with an 82nd-minute
penalty.

The Republic now sit bottom of Group 2, swapping places with their
opponents, with just four points from six games.