Turkey get better of Armenia in Yerevan
Saturday 6 September 2008
Match report by Dmitry Mamykin
Strikes from Tuncay Þanlý and Semih Þentürk ensured UEFA EURO 2008=99
semi-finalists Turkey started their FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign
with a win against Armenia in Yerevan.
Frustrating hour
The visitors were frustrated for an hour at the Hrazdan Stadium until
Middlesbrough FC forward Tuncay broke the deadlock and Semih, scorer
of crucial late goals for Fenerbahçe SK last season and for his
country in the summer, made the points safe with 13 minutes remaining.
Early chances
Both sides preferred an attacking approach early on, producing an
entertaining opening to the Group 5 contest. Semih could have put
Fatih Terim’s team in front just two minutes in but home goalkeeper
Roman Berezovsky was equal to the effort, before Hamlet Mkhitaryan
responded by forcing Turkey’s Volkan Demirel into a smart save.
Wasteful Erdinç
Mevlüt Erdinç was the most profligate of the Turkey players in the
first half, firing a presentable opportunity wide on the half-hour
before spurning another chance before the interval by failing to beat
Berezovsky from close range. After the break, Terim introduced another
forward in Kazým Kazým and his spark proved decisive.
Overdue goals
The 22-year-old supplied the assist on 61 minutes as Tuncay dispatched
his finish into the roof of the net from three metres. Turkey looked
more comfortable thereafter and it was no surprise when they doubled
their advantage. Emre Belözoðlu found Mehmet Aurélio in the box from a
free-kick in the 77th minute and the Brazilian-born midfielder teed up
Semih to confirm the victory. =0A=0A=0A