Pyunik primed for title defence
Tuesday, 18 April 2006
by Khachik Chakhoyan
from Yerevan
FC Pyunik got off to a flying start as the Armenian
Premier League season began with the title-holders
defeating newcomers FC Gandzasar Kapan 3-0. Arsen
Avetisyan scored twice with Levon Pachajyan adding the
third.
Fewer clubs
Pyunik announced their intentions at the onset of a
campaign that has seen the number of participating
teams drop from eleven to eight due to financial
problems. The Football Federation of Armenia had been
keen to increase the number of competing sides, but
that proved impossible, so each club will play its
rivals four times as in the last two seasons.
Ararat winner
Elsewhere on the opening weekend, FC Ararat Yerevan
overcame FC Banants thanks to Edgar Safaryan’s
solitary free-kick goal. FC Kilikia had to come from
behind against FC Ulis Yerevan after Gor Atabekyan put
Ulis ahead, Sagris Movsisyan equalising from the
penalty spot before Arman Minasyan grabbed the winner.
Meanwhile, FC Shirak managed a 0-0 draw against
much-fancied FC MIKA.
Pyunik dominant
Pyunik have been Armenian champions for five seasons
running, and have signed three players as they attempt
to make it six. Arsen Avetisyan and Eduard Partsikyan
have returned to their ranks from Russia’s second
division while 18-year-old Boris Melkonyan has joined
from Russian side FC Sochi-04.
MIKA primed
Pyunik’s main rivals are expected to be MIKA,
runners-up in the last two years. MIKA have five new
faces and held two training camps abroad in a bid to
improve their fortunes. The teams will get an early
chance to assess each other when they meet in the
Armenian Cup semi-finals on 19 April.
Turkish trips
Banants, meanwhile, have the experienced Nikolaj
Kiselev in charge and spent much of the pre-season in
Turkey. They also recruited nine players after a
series of trials, with six coming from FC Metalurh
Donetsk in Ukraine.
New boys
Finally, the top flight’s two newcomers, Gandzasar and
Ararat Yerevan, suggested they could cope with the
élite during previous cup campaigns, but while Ararat
have landed three Brazilians to keep compatriot Renato
Moraes company, Gandzasar will try their luck with an
all-Armenian squad.
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