UEFA.com
Sept 3 2005
Armenia 1 – 3 Netherlands
Dutch do their job
by Khachik Chakhoyan
Klaas Jan Huntelaar scored twice and Quincy Owusu-Abeyie added another
goal as the Netherlands kept up their good position in UEFA European
Under-21 Championship qualifying Group 1 in Armenia.
Huntelaar double
The visitors were in control for most of the 90 minutes, but it was
not their fine passing game that yielded the first goal. Huntelaar
showed a moment of personal brilliance on 29 minutes when he received
a pass and sent the ball into the top corner of Armenian goal from
25 metres. With 12 minutes to go before the break, the Dutch doubled
their lead. Artur Stepanyan fouled Dwight Tiendalli in Armenia’s
penalty area, and Huntelaar was on hand to convert the penalty.
Victory sealed
However, after the break the first dangerous attack by Armenia resulted
in a goal. Vahe Tadevosyan’s corner came to Tigran Karabagtsyan,
who rose over the Dutch defence to power a header into the net. But
the Netherlands quickly replied, as their main playmaker Daniel De
Ridder spotted substitute Owusu-Abeyie on 76 minutes, and the striker
calmly finished. De Ridder and Eldridge Royer also hit the woodwork
in the first and second halves respectively.
October deciders
The Netherlands’ main challengers, Romania and the Czech Republic,
meet later. Whatever the result, victory for the Dutch in the Czech
Republic on 7 October and at home to F.Y.R. Macedonia four days
later would take them through to the play-offs. Armenia, in fifth,
end their fixtures on Tuesday in the Czech Republic.