InternationalDisappointment, relief as Armenia draws Russia
Published: Wednesday March 23, 2011
Armenia's Roman Berezovski shakes hands with Russia's Pavel Pogrebniak after the final whistle. Vahram Baghdasarian / Photolure
Washington - UPDATE: In a highly anticipated match in European Championship qualification campaign played March 26 in Yerevan Armenia held Russia to a scoreless draw in a very nervous game.
Armenia began well, making several good efforts on Russian goal in the first 15 minutes. Russia took the initiative in the next half hour taking about 10 corners one immediately after another, but Armenia's veteran goalkeeper Roman Berezovsky protected well.
Second half was more even, but Armenia's Henrik Mkhitaryan-Yura Movsisyan offensive line combo never fully sprung to action.
Except for a shot on goal early in the first half, Mkhitaryan was invisible for most of the game.
Playing his first full game this year, Movsisyan appeared tired and was limping towards the end of the match.
But Movsisyan also helped create possibly the most exciting moment of the game. The scoreboard briefly turned 1:0 in Armenia's favor but Movsisyan's shot that appeared to reach the target actually went just wide and bounced against the back of the net.
Following games by fellow Group B teams, Slovakia against Andorra (1:0) and Ireland against Macedonia (2:1), Russia, Slovakia and Ireland are tied at 10 points each, followed by Armenia in fourth place with 8 points.
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On March 26 at 1900 hours local time (11 AM EST), eleven men representing Armenia's national squad will enter the football pitch at Yerevan's Republican Stadium to make history.
Like never before, Armenia has significant chances of qualifying for the European Football Championship. But first Armenians will have to confront their group favorites Russia in back-to-back matches.
For the first time in decades, all 15,000 tickets for the match were sold out weeks in advance, including to thousands of fans who are expected to arrive from Russia. Millions more are expected to tune in to watch on main Armenian and Russian television channels and online.
Over the past year, Armenia's newly recruited young talents added unprecedented dynamism to its offensive line, scoring nine goals in four qualification games, while allowing less than half that number.
Those nine goals scored by 22-year-old Henrik Mkhitaryan, 23-year-old Yura Movsisyan, 23-year-old Gevorg Ghazaryan, 24-year-old Edgar Manucharyan and 26-year-old Marcos Pizelli were the product of work ethic, creativity and skill exhibited on the level that Armenians have not seen in their football players in many years.
The five twentysomethings are playing together with veterans like goalkeeper Roman Berezovsky, 36, a Yerevan native who began playing competitive soccer in Kapan in southern Armenia in 1992, and team captain Sargis Hovsepyan, 38, who is two years older than team coach Vardan Minasyan.
On March 26 Armenia squad will try their magic against a Russian team that according to FIFA, the world football organization, is 13th strongest in the world and 10th strongest in Europe. Armenia itself is currently ranked 65th in the world and 34th in Europe.
Both teams come to the game after losses in "friendly" matches last month. Playing without Movsisyan Armenia lost to Georgia 1:2, while Russia lost to Iran 0:1.
Movsisyan has yet to play a full game this year, but has already contributed one goal assist and one goal for FC Krasnodar, Russia premiere league team he joined earlier this year. Movsisyan is the author of three of out nine goals in Armenia's qualification campaign so far.
Probably the team's biggest star, Mkhitaryan has been playing well for Ukrainian champions Shakhter Donetsk that just ousted Italy's FC Roma in UEFA Champions' League and will next face Spain's FC Barcelona.
On March 26 Armenia's success will likely most depend on Mkhitaryan-Movsisyan coordination in getting the ball close to and into the other side's goal. Movsisyan's time on the field is crucial.
The outcome of the two games with Russia - the one on March 26 and return match on June 4 in Russia - may prove decisive for Armenia's qualification chances.
Currently Armenia is sharing the second through fourth spots with Ireland and Slovakia with 7 points each and Russia is leading the qualification group with 9 points. The group leader qualifies automatically while chances of the team that comes second will depend on number of points they had won.
Coach Minasyan has called the following players for the March 26 game:
Goalkeepers: Roman Berezovsky (FC Khimki, Russia), Stepan Ghazaryan (FC Banants);
Defenders: Sargis Hovsepyan (FC Pyunik), Robert Arzoumanyan (FC Yagiellonia, Poland), Hrait Mkoyan (FC Mika), Hovanes Hambartsumyan (FC Banants), Artak Yedigaryan (FC Pyunik), Artur Yuspashyan (FC Pyunik), Levon Hayrapetyan (FC Lehia), Valery Aleksanyan (FC Uliss);
Midfielders: Artur Yedigarian (FC Pas, Iran), Edgar Malakyan (FC Pyunik), Henrik Mkhitaryan (FC Shakhtar, Ukraine), Karlen Mkrtchyan (FC Pyunik), Artak Daschyan (FC Banants), Levon Pachadjyan (FC Sanat Naft, Iran);
Forwards: Gevorg Ghazaryan (FC Pyunik), Edgar Manucharyan (FC Pyunik), Marcos Pizelli (FC Pyunik), Yura Movsisyan (FC Krasnodar, Russia), Robert Zebelian (Dinamo-Minsk, Belarus).
Connect: http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro2012 and
