Sports: Turkey Secures Victory Over Armenia in European Nations 2024 Qualifiers

Haber Tusba
Turkey –

Kicked the Turkish national team off they campaign Saturday with successful start against their neighbors, Armenia, in The fourth set by defeating the latter 2-1 in Yerevan.

Orkon Gokcu and Kerem Akturkoglu scored a goal for Turkey and Ozan Kabak each scored an error goal goal for Armenia.

Turkish gone behind alone goal in The tenth minute when Armenian Kamo Hovhannisyan fired in On the other side of edge of the penalty area And knocked out Ozan Kabak’s outstretched leg ball past for him goalkeeper Mert Junuk in The tenth minute.

Kökçü tie in 35 with for along way-range fire in corner of the goal just outside Armenia keeper Arsen Beglyrian.

Akturkoglu put the visitors ahead in The 64th minute, when Anis Onal took Quick free kick in belong to him halfput the wing in fire the ball inside the corner of the net.

Armenian football fans Collected for Euro 2024 qualifiers match in Yerevan, years later than Monday countries first Resorted to “football diplomacy heal their historical enmity.

chanting “Armenia, forward! About two hundred members of Local fan club The Red Eagles in Central Yerevan before kick-off Later in today.

The fans then lit colored flares, threw fireworks and beat drums as they marched towards the Republican Vazgen Sargsyan Stadium.

in the crowd outside The 14,000-capacity stadium in pouring rain blew many vuvuzelas and waved Armenia’s red, blue and orange. national media.

“we in Fighting mood We have come for “It’s a victory,” Karen Antonian, a member of the Red Eagles band, 36, told AFP.

Soul and passion of our players will help They have to prevail over Strong and experienced opponent.

Another fan, 20-year-old Manny Zurabian, said she was confident in Ha team’s win.

“we will help our team with Our crazy energy, “the stadium will tremble with our shouts and applause.”

All tickets sold out for the matchBut citing security concerns, judgment body of football in Europe, UEFA, banned Turkish fans attending the qualifiers in Yerevan.

Armenian fans They were banned from the rematch in Turkey in September.

Hovik Arostanyan, 46, said team’s success Depends on “Whether our footballers will be able to forget politics focus on the game. “

Armenia and Turkey have never established formal diplomatic relations, and their common borders have been closed since the 1990s.

The two countries first They played each other in Yerevan in 2008 in Presence of Then-Turkish President Abdullah Gul.

In 2009, Armenian leader Serzh Sargsyan traveled to Turkey city of Bursa to watch a second game between the two countries.

It is commonly referred to as “football diplomacy matches starting mark of Diplomatic normalization process.

On Friday, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said Monday countries It plans to permanently open its borders, which have been closed for 35 years.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS