UEFA.com, Europe
April 29 2004
Hakobyan tames Turkmenistan
Armenia 1-0 Turkmenistan
Ara Hakobyan underlined his prolific reputation with a 67th-minute
goal to give Armenia victory in their first ever meeting with
Turkmenistan.
Hakobyan goal
Armenia dominated throughout in Yerevan against their fellow former
Soviet republic. Hakobyan, who scored an astonishing 45 goals for FC
Banants in last year’s Armenian Premier League leaving him in the
current top five in the ESM Golden Shoe rankings, hit the post twice
before finally scoring.
Coach happy
Home coach Mikhaj Stoichita and his counterpart Rahim Kurbamamedov
both took the chance to give young players a run-out with one eye on
their forthcoming FIFA World Cup qualifying campaigns. Stoichita,
whose side meet the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Romania,
Finland. F.Y.R. Macedonia and Andorra in Group 1, said: “I am
satisfied with our display. We were looking the stronger team
throughout the match and could have scored many times. I was able to
see some young players in action.”
Armenia credited
Kurbamamedov, whose team have opened their World Cup campaign with
wins against Sri Lanka and Indonesia in a group also containing Saudi
Arabia, said: “Of course I do not like the result, but the Armenians
deserved this win.”