Ararat mount Armenian title challenge
Friday 24 August 2007
by Khachik Chakhoyan
from Yerevan
An influx of Serbian talent has lifted FC Ararat
Yerevan to the top of the Armenian table, but FC
Pyunik remain in a strong position behind them.
Leading pack
The top two are starting to pull away from the chasing
pack in Armenia, but for the moment, Ararat seem to
hold the whip hand. They are four points clear at the
top, although champions Pyunik have two games in hand,
and have yet to lose against their main rivals.
Despite Serbian coach Du?an Mijiæ having replaced
Varujan Sukiasyan, Ararat continue to look like a
dangerous side.
Fifth meeting
Ararat meet Pyunik for a fifth time this season on
Sunday, with newly-arrived Serbian defender Slavko
Vuèkoviè and striker Petar Asteriè hoping to impress.
In previous meetings, Ararat won away and drew at home
in an Armenian Cup semi-final and earned a draw away
in the league and a 4-3 triumph at home. However, this
could prove to be their most significant meeting yet.
Young talent
Pyunik banked on young talent this season and put in a
respectable performance in Europe, losing out to FC
Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League second
qualifying round following a win against Derry City FC
in their opening fixture. However, their continued
search for a goalkeeper to replace Armenian
international Gevorg Kasparov may yet undermine their
good work.
Goalkeeping changes
Since Kasparov moved to Iran, Pyunik have tried five
goalkeepers without successfully settling on a
permanent replacement. Grigor Melisketyan, Stanislav
Khorkin, Zlatan Adrovich and Jeaofak Miller have all
failed to pass muster in Yerevan whole Uruguayan
custodian Javier Bordad is becoming renowned for
lapses like the one that cost Pyunik a 2-1 defeat at
FC Banants on 12 August.
Banants boost
Cup holders Banants are fourth, level with FC MIKA,
but their changeable form has left them ten points
behind the leaders. That win against Pyunik was a
major lift for the club, who have signed goalkeeper
Dmitry Pivovarenko, Czech defender Jan Jelínek and
Uganda midfielder Noah Kasule, but was followed by a
2-1 defeat at struggling FC Ulis Yerevan. Bulgarian
coach Nikolai Kostov may soon get the chance to
improve things should he be offered a move to Banants.
Petrosyan’s side
FC Gandzasar Kapan, led by former Pyunik boss Samvel
Petrosyan, remain within touching distance of the top
three after a run of three wins. "We will fight for a
top-three finish," said assistant coach Abraham
Khashmanyan. "I can’t say which medals we will fight
for but we are aiming at least a UEFA Intertoto Cup
place. That would be good achievement for us."
©uefa.com
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
