ARMENIA END CAMPAIGN WITH 3-0 WIN OVER 10-MAN ANDORRA
Reuters, UK
Oct 12 2005
ANDORRA LA VELLA, Oct 12 (Reuters) – Armenia ended their World Cup
qualifying campaign on a high with a 3-0 victory over 10-man Andorra
on Wednesday that lifted them off the bottom of Group One.
Armenia, whose only other win came against the same opponents in March,
finished in sixth place in the group with seven points from their 12
matches, two ahead of Andorra.
It was a disappointing end to what has been Andorra’s most successful
campaign in their short history in international competition.
The team from the tiny Pyrenean principality beat Macedonia 1-0 at home
a year ago to claim their first points in an official qualifying match.
They then earned a 0-0 draw away to the same opponents in February and
won another point with a goalless draw at home to Finland last month.
Although they held the visitors for most of the first half they
self-destructed in an unfortunate five-minute spell just before
the break.
Midfielder Oscar Sonejee turned a cross from the left into his own
net in 39th minute and defender Ildefons Lima received his marching
orders soon after for spitting at an opponent.
Andorra suffered another setback at the start of the second half when
Aram Akopyan smashed home a volley at the far post after a quickly
taken corner.
Things went from bad to worse just after the hour when Ara Akopyan
made it 3-0 with a virtuoso individual goal.
The Armenia striker received the ball with his back to goal on the
edge of the area, turned inside a defender, skipped past another and
rifled home into the top corner to complete an emphatic win.