NURMELA LEADS FINLAND OVER ARMENIA 1-0 IN EURO 2008 QUALIFIER
By Marius Turula, AP Sports Writer
Associated Press Worldstream
November 15, 2006 Wednesday 7:44 PM GMT
Mika Nurmela scored in the 10th minute Wednesday to help Finland
beat Armenia 1-0 in a European Championship qualifier played on an
artificial surface.
Finland is first in Group A with 11 points. Serbia, which has 10
points, is idle. Armenia has one point.
Nurmela scored from close range when striker Jonatan Johansson
reacted quickest to Armenia goalkeeper Gevorg Kasparov failing to
hold midfielder Mika Vayrynen’s low shot.
Finland goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen made two world-class saves in
the 55th to deny Levon Pachajyan and in a one-on-one situation with
substitute Ara Hakobyan in the 83rd.
Finland dominated the first half but had only a hard shot by midfielder
Alexej Eremenko Jr. that was well saved by Kasparov to show for it
apart from the goal.
Eremenko Jr. was Finland’s most dangerous player with Jari Litmanen
absent after a recent ankle operation. The hosts lost Vayrynen to
injury in the first half and the team’s passing worsened afterward.
Lineups:
Finland: Jussi Jaaskelainen; Ari Nyman, Hannu Tihinen, Sami Hyypia,
Toni Kallio, Mika Nurmela, Markus Heikkinen, Petri Vayrynen (Jari
Ilola, 46), Joonas Kolkka; Alexei Eremenko Jr. (Shefki Kuqi, 89),
Jonatan Johansson.
Armenia: Gevorg Kasparov; Sargsis Hovsepyan, Alexander Tateosian, Karen
Dokhoyan (Valeri Aleksanyan, 46), Aghvan Lazarian; Levon Pachajyan,
Romik Khachatryan, Artavaz Karamyan, Armen Shamgeldyan, Hamlet
Mkhjtaryan (Ara Hakobyan, 74), Robert Zebeyan (Arman Karamyan, 78).