Reuters
Oct 9 2004
Kuqi double helps Finland beat Armenia 3-1
HELSINKI, Oct 9 (Reuters) – Stand-in striker Shefki Kuqi struck twice
either side of a goal by Aleksei Eremenko as Finland beat Armenia 3-1
in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday.
Kuqi, replacing the injured Mikael Forssell, got his first
international goal for three years with an easy tap in after eight
minutes when he was set up by Eremenko.
Eremenko then made it 2-0 with a 28th minute free kick — his fifth
goal in four World Cup qualifiers — before Armen Shakhgeldyan got
one back for Armenia with a free kick deflected by Finland defender
Sami Hyypi past keeper Antti Niemi.
Finland dominated the second half but could not add a third goal
until Kuqi wrapped up the points in the 87th minute with a curling
strike from long distance that went in off the post.
After four games Finland are level on nine points at the top of Group
One with Romania, who were playing their fourth match against Czech
Republic on Saturday. Finland travel to Amsterdam to face the
Netherlands in their next qualifier on Wednesday.