PYUNIK WALTZ TO ARMENIAN TITLE
by Khachik Chakhoyan
UEFA, Switzerland
Oct 23 2006
FC Pyunik coasted to a sixth consecutive Armenian Premier League title
in some style as an overwhelming 12-1 victory against FC Kilikia saw
them build an unassailable 14-point lead atop the table with three
matches remaining.
Blistering start
Samvel Petrosyan’s side went into the weekend’s fixtures eleven
points clear of FC Banants, and as their nearest rivals were slipping
to a 1-0 defeat by FC MIKA, Pyunik underlined their dominance with
an overwhelming performance. Levon Pachajyan set the tone as early
as the second minute and by the quarter-hour further strikes from
Tigran Gharabaghtsyan, Armen Tigranyan and Arsen Avetisyan had left
the champions four goals to the good.
Captain’s seal
Avetisyan went on to add another, while Gharabaghtsyan completed his
hat-trick as Kilikia struggled to stem the flow. Rafael Nazaryan,
Agvan Lazarian, Valeri Aleksanyan and Artur Stepanyan also added
their names to the scoresheet before captain Sargis Hovsepyan made
it 12 with 15 minutes remaining. Kilikia pulled one back late on but
it failed to take the gloss off a masterful performance as Pyunik
claimed their ninth title since Armenian independence in 1992. It
secures a place in the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round.