New coach boosts Ararat
Thursday, 14 September 2006
by Khachik Chakhoyan
from Yerevan
FC Pyunik continue to dominate the standings in the Armenian
championship but in the chasing pack FC Ararat Yerevan are the form
team, having won five games out of five under new coach Varuzhan
Sukiasyan.
Erzrumyans influence Sukiasyan was put in charge of the capital-based
side just before the season’s second half opened in August and under
his guidance they have cut the gap to third-placed FC MIKA to just
four points. As well as the coach’s influence off the park, brothers
Nshan and Sergey Erzrumyans have made a significant contribution on
it. Nshan has scored seven goals in four matches for his new club,
including a hat-trick against former club FC Kilikia.
Banants impress FC Banants have also enjoyed a fine spell, bouncing
back from defeat against Ararat to get nine points from three
matches. Nikolay Kiselev’s team followed up a 3-0 victory against FC
Shirak with impressive wins against reigning champions Pyunik and last
year’s cup winners MIKA – results that have taken them above MIKA into
second spot.
Leaders slip-up Banants still have some way to go to catch Pyunik, who
lead the way by ten points. However, the chasing pack can draw hope
from the fact that the leaders unexpectedly dropped five points during
their last four games.
Tight group Elsewhere, FC Gandzasar Kapan, FC Kilikia, FC Shirak and
FC Ulis Yerevan are all out of contention for the leading positions
but have formed a tight group at the bottom. With ten matches to play
bottom side Ulis are only seven points behind fifth-placed Gandzasar –
yet also five adrift at the foot of the standings.
©uefa.com 1998-2006.