Sportinglife.com, UK
Aug 22 2007
Armenia 1 Portugal 1
Cristiano Ronaldo spared Portugal’s blushes as they missed the chance
to cut the gap to two points on Group A leaders Poland with a draw
against Armenia in a Euro 2008 qualifier in Yerevan.
Armenia stunned Portugal through Robert Arzumanyan’s headed goal
after 12 minutes, but Ronaldo equalised eight minutes before the
break with a fabulous solo effort.
Yet Portugal’s star-studded team could not overcome their eastern
European counterparts in the second half as Armenia held on for their
third surprise result in a row, having defeated Kazakhstan and Poland
in the last set of fixtures.
Karen Dokhoyan and Deco traded shots from range before Arzumanyan put
the hosts in front, converting Artavazd Karamyan’s free-kick from 12
yards.
Deco saw his left-foot shot from the edge of the box go wide before
Ronaldo had a right-foot effort saved by Roman Berezovsky.
Barcelona playmaker Deco once again tried to breach the stern Armenia
defence from distance, firing a right-foot shot wide from 20 yards.
Armenia responded but Karamyan’s right-foot shot drifted wide.
Ronaldo equalised after 37 minutes, showing his trademark quick feet
to deceive the hosts’ defence. The Manchester United forward showed
great footwork before eluding a defender with a dragback and firing
beyond Berezovsky from six yards.
Ronaldo fired a free-kick over the bar from 35 yards after 55 minutes
before Luis Felipe Scolari sought greater attacking impetus with the
introduction of Nuno Gomes and Ricardo Quaresma at the expense of
Helder Postiga and Simao Sambrosa, who had been ineffective.
Tiago fired wide before Levon Pachajyan forced Ricardo to save from
25 yards and then Quaresma twice missed at the other end.
Substitute Gevorg Ghazaryan had a 30-yard shot saved by Ricardo as he
tried to ease the pressure on Armenia with 10 minutes remaining.
Deco shot over from 25 yards with five minutes left and Eduardo Bruno
Alves fired wide in stoppage time as Armenia held on for a famous
point to dent Portugal’s hopes of qualification.
Armenia (1) 1 Portugal (1) 1
Armenia Berezovsky, Hovsepyan, Arzumanyan, Tadevosyan,Lazarian,
Pachajyan, Voskanyan, Arakelian,Artavazd Karamyan (Melikyan 70),
Mkhitaryan (Ghazarian 59),Melkonyan (Khachatryan 90).
Subs Not Used: Feliks Hakobyan, Minasian, Dokhoyan, Zebelian.
Goals: Arzumanyan 12.
Portugal Ricardo, Miguel, Fernando Meira,Andrade (Bruno Alves 76),
Ferreira, Raul Meireles, Tiago, Deco,Ronaldo, Postiga (Nuno Gomes
61), Simao (Quaresma 63).
Subs Not Used: Quim, Caneira, Veloso, Joao Moutinho.
Booked: Andrade.
Goals: Ronaldo 37.
Att: 15,550
Ref: Claus Bo Larsen (Denmark).
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
