FEET OFF THE PEDAL AT PYUNIK
by Khachik Chakhoyan
uefa.com, Switzerland
Oct 5 2006
A sticky patch for leaders FC Pyunik may have come too late for their
rivals in Armenia, where the real battle is for third place.
Pyunik stalling
Pyunik have shipped points in recent weeks, drawing 1-1 against both
FC MIKA and FC Ararat Yerevan and losing to FC Banants back on 19
August. With Pyunik’s players seemingly already assured of the title,
some have pointed to a lack of motivation, but the pressure of playing
international football may also be a factor.
Temporary concerns
Pyunik’s sedate progress to the championship has also been interrupted
by player problems. First Agvan Lazarian picked up a five-match
suspension (later reduced to four) before Levon Pachajyan arranged
a move to an Israeli club which subsequently fell through.
Banants buoyant
Banants still have a slender chance of stealing the crown. Nikolay
Kiselev’s side have won their latest meetings with the frontrunners,
and their last match ended in a 2-1 win at FC Shirak thanks to Sergey
Khistev’s first goal for the team. Banants have 50 points, eight less
than Pyunik with five rounds of the 28-game season to go.
Ararat splendour
MIKA have been in stuttering form, their consecutive 1-1 draws against
Shirak and Pyunik leaving the Armenian Cup holders in danger of being
overtaken by Ararat. The fourth-placed club have gone seven matches
unbeaten under new coach Varuzhan Sukiasyan with Nshan Erzrumjan
scoring at least once in all those outings to take his campaign total
to 13. Only two points divide the sides.
Bottom places
The gap between Ararat and fifth-placed FC Gandzasar Kapan is up to
19 points, with Gandzasar, FC Kilikia, Shirak and FC Ulis Yerevan
still battling against relegation as the season reaches its climax –
although seven points separate bottom team Ulis from the relative
safety of a fifth-placed finish.