Category: 2019

Sports: Armenian football team’s head coach thanks footballers

Ani Basmajian
News.am, Armenia
Sept 5 2019

During his post-game news conference, head coach of the Armenian national football team Armen Gyulbudaghyants commented on the team’s defeat in the Armenia-Italy clash of the EURO 2020 qualifying.

“We played well during the first 20 minutes, but then Italy started pressuring us and we missed a goal. We didn’t have anything to lose in the second half and played well.

I thanked the boys for doing a good job. There were moments that we could have scored goals, but we were defeated. Kamo Hovhannisyan did a tremendous job. We wanted to replace him at the end, but Kamo is a fighter, and despite his injury, he played until the end.

I think we’ll be able to recover before the clash with the Bosnians. I’m satisfied with Artak Grigoryan’s game.

Aram Hayrapetyan helped the team in two or three episodes of the first half,” Gyulbudaghyants said.

The clash between the Bosnian and Armenian teams will take place on September 8 in Yerevan.

Samvel Sukiasyan

Sports: Armenia loses to Italy in heated clash

Boris Nahapetian
News.am, Armenia
Sept 5 2019

The Armenia-Italy clash (fifth round of EURO 2020 qualifying) ended with Italy’s victory (3-1).

At the 10th minute, striker for FC Sochi Aleksandre Karapetian scored the first goal after a pass from Tigran Barseghyan. At the 28th minute, striker for Torino Andrea Belotti tied the score after a pass from Emerson. At the 77th minute, striker for Roma Lorenzo Pelegrini helped Italy advance, and three minutes later, Andrea Belotti made a double.

At the second minute of the time added to the first half, Aleksandre Karapetian got his second yellow card and was removed from the playing field.

Overall, the Italian team was controlling the game, and evidence of this was the control indicator (68%) and the number of passes made by Italian footballers (598).

In the second half, the team of Armen Gyulbudaghyants, taking into account the removal of Aleksandre Karapetian, was mainly playing defense. Armenia managed to play a dangerous counterattack, but in the final part of the attacks, the Armenian footballers didn’t succeed.

The main referee of the clash Daniel Zibert didn’t miss any opportunity to call penalties in the direction of the Armenian team’s gate and to show yellow cards to the Armenian footballers.

Currently, Italy is the leader with 15 points in Group J of EURO 2020 qualifying. The Finnish team comes in second with 9 points, while Armenia’s team is in third place with 6 points. The teams of Greece and Bosnia & Herzegovina each have four points, and Lichtenstein is in the last place with no points.

Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, President of the Football Federation of Armenia Artur Vanetsyan and President of UEFA Aleksander Ceferin were following the clash at Republican Stadium.

EURO 2020 qualifying, 5th round

Armenia-Italy: 1-3

Aleksandre Karapetian, 10 – Andrea Belotti, 28, 80, Lorenzo Pelegrini, 77

Removal

Armenia: Aleksandre Karapetian (second yellow card, 45+2)

Sports: Pellegrini after Italy victory over Armenia: “Mkhitaryan played well. We look forward to seeing him in Rome”.

Maghakian Mike
The Roma Press, Italy
Sept 5 2019

1 min ago John Solano
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Roma midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini scored a goal in Italy’s 3-1 victory over Armenia in the Azzurri’s Euro 2020 qualifier match and spoke to Rai Sport following the clash:


“It was a good night for us, we won a difficult match. They’re a very tough team and we played at a difficult place. Mkhitaryan? He played a good game, we look forward to seeing him in Rome. He’s a great player”.

Sports: Belotti double as Italy hit back to beat 10-man Armenia

Emil Lazarian
EuroNews, EU
Sept 5 2019
 
 
Belotti double as Italy hit back to beat 10-man Armenia
 
By Reuters• last updated: 05/09/2019 – 21:03
 
 
YEREVAN (Reuters) – Italy recovered from an early shock as they came from behind to beat Armenia 3-1 in a Euro 2020 qualifier on Thursday, the hosts playing the entire second half with 10 men after goalscorer Aleksandre Karapetyan was sent off.
 
Karapetyan fired Armenia in front in the 13th minute of the Group J match but was dismissed in first-half stoppage time for a second yellow card in what seemed a very harsh decision.
 
Italy, who had levelled through Andrea Belotti in the 28th minute, wrapped up the match in the last 15 minutes with Lorenzo Pellegrini’s first goal for his country and another strike from Belotti.
 
It was anything but easy for Italy, however, as Armenia threatened with a series of counter-attacks before running out of gas towards the end.
 
Leaders Italy maintained their 100 percent record in the group with 15 points from five games while Armenia, 3-2 winners over Greece in their previous match, are third with six points.
 
“Their sending-off made it difficult for us as they closed up their defence,” said Italy coach Roberto Mancini.
 
“Today it was difficult to play: our players have two league games under their belts, Armenia are in mid-season. It’s not an excuse, it’s the truth.”
 
Armenia stunned the visitors when Tigran Barseghyan broke up an Italy attack, surged out of defence and slipped the ball to Karapetyan who scored with a low shot from the edge of the area.
 
Belotti levelled in the 28th minute, volleying home a cross from Emerson, one of two Brazilian-born players in their side alongside Jorginho
 
Federico Bernardeschi and Belotti both clipped the woodwork before Karapetyan was given a second yellow card after a challenge on Leonardo Bonucci.
 
Although Armenia closed ranks after the break, they launched some very threatening breaks and, in one, Kamo Hovhannisyan burst down the left touchline, running 70 metres before finding Henrikh Mkhitaryan whose shot was deflected wide.
 
With Mancini increasingly agitated on the touchline, Bonucci swung a high ball into the area and Pellegrini touched it into the net with a neat header in the 77th minute.
 
Three minutes later, Belotti turned his marker and his shot hit the foot of the post, struck goalkeeper Aram Airapetyan and ricocheted into the net.
 
(Reporting by Brian Homewood, editing by Ed Osmond)
 

Sports: ‘Armenia have already beaten Italy!’

Boshkezenian Garik
Football Italia
Sept 5 2019
‘Armenia have already beaten Italy!’
By Football Italia staff

Armenia CT Armen Gyulbudaghyants is confident his country can spring a shock against Italy as ‘we beat them in a futsal match a few months ago.’

Italy are leaders in Group J of Euro 2020 qualifying with four wins from four, but Armenia are not far off the pace as they sit in third place with six points.

“The President of our federation said we could beat Italy,” Gyulbudaghyants said at a Press conference for Thursday’s game in Yerevan.

“He didn’t put me on the spot. We beat Italy in a futsal match a few months ago and we can do it on a bigger pitch.

“We know the Italian national team are very strong and that they’ve changed philosophy with Mancini.

“Now they attack with more bravery and play good football.”

Sports: Italy: Belotti brace conquers Armenia

Albert Nalbandian
Football Italia
Sept 5 2019
Italy: Belotti brace conquers Armenia
By Football Italia staff

Italy maintained their perfect start to Euro 2020 qualifying, but found Andrea Belotti’s brace and a 3-1 win away to 10-men Armenia tougher than expected.

Follow all the action as it happens and give your views on the LIVEBLOG.

The Azzurri earned a fifth straight victory in Euro 2020 qualifying Group J, having conceded only one goal so far against Bosnia. They visited third-placed Armenia, who were fresh from a 3-2 win away to Greece with new Roma loan signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Roberto Mancini had numerous injuries to deal with, missing the likes of Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Spinazzola, Lorenzo Insigne, Cristiano Biraghi, Mattia De Sciglio, Cristiano Piccini, Bryan Cristante and Leonardo Pavoletti. Alessio Romagnoli therefore reunited his Milan partnership with Leonardo Bonucci, while Andrea Belotti started in attack because Torino have already played six Europa League qualifiers this summer and he was more match fit.

These nations had met only twice before, a 3-1 Italy away victory and 2-2 draw at the Stadio San Paolo in Naples for 2014 World Cup qualifying.

The hosts had a bright start, Gianluigi Donnarumma comfortably dealt with scuffed Aleksandre Karapetyan and Ghazaryan efforts, taking the lead after 11 minutes.

Nicolò Barella was caught in possession by a high Armenian press, Barseghyan went on a rapid counter and threaded through for Karapetyan’s precise angled drive. It was only the second goal Italy had conceded in qualifying.

Federico Bernardeschi spun round from 12 yards and was curling into the far bottom corner, but Aram Airapetyan made a spectacular fingertip save to push it round the post.

Marco Verratti was the only player at risk of a ban and was booked 25 minutes in for a row with Karapetyan, so will be suspended against Finland in Tampere on Sunday evening.

Italy got back on level terms when Emerson Palmieri turned a defender inside out on the left and swept in the ideal cross for Andrea Belotti to tap in at the back post.

Moments later, it was almost 2-1 to the Azzurri, as Bernardeschi’s curler clipped the top of the crossbar with Airapetyan rooted to the spot.

All Italy’s attacks came through Emerson down the left, earning a series of corners, while Belotti had what would’ve been his second goal ruled offside, a fine volley.

Il Gallo then skimmed the far post with a half-volley, as Italy took control and dominated possession. There was controversy at the end of the half, as goalscorer Karapetyan had been booked for that row with Verratti and received a second yellow card for a supposed elbow on Leonardo Bonucci. However, replays suggest it was a very harsh decision and did not seem to be that much in it.

Moments later, Belotti hit a fresh-air shot, as Chiesa’s volleyed assist bounced right in front of him with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Emerson had the ball in the net, but this too didn’t count, as Barella had been unable to keep the long free kick in play for the assist.

Armenia fought back when down to 10 men, as Nicolò Barella was booked for clipping Mkhitaryan’s heels on the edge of the D at the end of a counter. After the free kick, Mkrtchyan volleyed over.

It was impossible to tell Armenia were a man down, as Emerson needed a last-ditch block on Mkhitaryan after a powerful Hovhannisyan counter-attack.

Every time Hovhannisyan went on the counter, he surged past defenders and ran half-way up the pitch. It was substitute Lorenzo Pellegrini who turned it around, as Bonucci’s long ball into the box found him unmarked for a glancing header from 10 yards. The Roma midfielder scored his first senior Italy goal.

Moments later, it was 3-1, the same result as Italy’s only other trip to Armenia in 2012. Belotti gathered a Sensi through ball, turned between two defenders and the shot bounced off the inside of the near post, ricocheting in off the goalkeeper’s shoulder.

Pellegrini failed to make the most of a poor Hereyan back-pass, then when Belotti did add another in stoppages, it was incorrectly ruled offside.

Armenia 1-3 Italy

Karapetyan 11 (A), Belotti 28, 80 (I), Lo Pellegrini 77 (I)

Armenia: Airapetyan; Hambartsumyan, Haroyan, Calisir, K Hovhannisyan; A Grigoryan (Hovsepyan 57), Mkrtchyan; Barseghyan (Adamyan 57), Mkhitaryan, Ghazaryan (Babayan 82); Karapetyan

Italy: G Donnarumma; Florenzi, Romagnoli, Bonucci, Emerson; Barella (Sensi 68), Jorginho, Verratti; Bernardeschi (Lasagna 82), Belotti, Chiesa (Lo Pellegrini 60)

Ref: Siebert (GER)

Sent off: Karapetyan 45 (A)

Sports: Italy struggles to beat 10-man Armenia in Euro qualifier

Badalian Vardan
TSN.ca
Sept 5 2019
 
 
Italy struggles to beat 10-man Armenia in Euro qualifier
 
Injury-depleted Italy required two late goals to secure a 3-1 win over 10-man Armenia on Thursday and extend its perfect start to European Championship qualifying.
 
The Canadian Press
 
Alessio Romagnoli Leonardo Bonucci , The Canadian Press
 
YEREVAN, Armenia — Injury-depleted Italy required two late goals to secure a 3-1 win over 10-man Armenia on Thursday and extend its perfect start to European Championship qualifying.
 
Azzurri coach Roberto Mancini was enraged as his squad failed to produce any serious chances in the second half when it held a man advantage — until substitute Lorenzo Pellegrini broke the deadlock in the 77th.
 
Andrea Belotti then added another to go with his first-half equalizer.
 
Armenia took the initiative early on with Aleksandre Karapetyan finishing off a counterattack that began with an Italian defensive lapse.
 
Karapetyan was then sent off in first-half added time for picking up a second yellow card.
 
“In a way, the red card penalized us, because Armenia just focused on defending with 10 men and didn’t allow any spaces. If they had had 11, they would have pushed forward more,” Mancini said. “Armenia was physically superior today as they are midway through their seasons.”
 
With five wins in five matches, Italy leads Group J with a full 15 points. Second-place Finland was hosting Greece later.
 
Mancini had anticipated a difficult performance, pointing out that most of Italy’s players are short on physical fitness only two rounds into Serie A.
 
Making matters more complicated was the absence of injured captain Giorgio Chiellini, plus key forward Lorenzo Insigne, Bryan Cristante, Cristiano Biraghi and Mattia De Sciglio.
 
Midfielder Nicolò Barella turned the ball over to set Armenia on the counterattack that Karapetyan finished off with a shot to the far corner as Leonardo Bonucci failed to intervene.
 
Belotti’s equalizer came with a volley near the far post following a cross from Emerson Palmieri.
 
A minute later, Federico Bernardeschi hit the crossbar.
 
Karapetyan’s first yellow came for an argument with Marco Verratti and his second was for a raised elbow on Bonucci, although replays showed that it was a harsh decision.
 
Verratti was also booked, meaning he will miss Italy’s next match in Finland on Sunday due to accumulated cards.
 
Pellegrini’s goal — his first for the national team — came with a header following a cross from Bonucci as he was left unmarked 10 yards out.
 
Belotti’s second came with a difficult shot through a crowd of defenders that was aided by a poor effort from the goalkeeper.
 
Belotti plays for Torino, which started its season early for Europa League qualifying, meaning his physical condition was ahead of many Italy players.
 
“It was a tough start for us, as Armenia was very aggressive and the pitch was not in great condition,” Belotti said. “Their chances were all on the counterattack, but we slowly took control and could have had more goals, including one I missed badly, but fortunately we were able to turn it around.”
 
Armenia captain Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who recently joined Roma on loan in Italy’s Serie A, was a constant threat.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Sports: Armenia 1-3 Italy: Report, Ratings & Reaction as the Azzurri Cruise Past Ten-Men

Frangulian Shushan
90 Min
Sept 5 2019
Sam Brookes
05 Sep 2019

    General Prosecution refrains to comment Constitutional Court’s Kocharyan decision for now

    Elizabeth Jabejian

    General Prosecution refrains to comment Constitutional Court’s Kocharyan decision for now

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    17:21, 4 September, 2019

    YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS. The General Prosecution of Armenia will express its position over the Constitutional Court’s decision on ex-President Robert Kocharyan’s motion after it receives the complete decision, General Prosecution spokesperson Arevik Khachatryan told ARMENPRESS.

    “We can speak about the possible consequences of the Constitutional Court’s decision only after having the complete decision. Therefore, we can’t say anything until then,” Khachatryan said.

    The Constitutional Court of Armenia issued its verdict over ex-President Robert Kocharyan’s appeal regarding his arrest.

    Robert Kocharyan, currently in pre-trial detention on charges of “overthrowing constitutional order” during the 2008 Yerevan unrest, requested the Constitutional Court to determine whether or not his arrest is constitutional, i.e. whether paragraph 2 of Article 135 and Article 35 of the Criminal Procedures Code are in conformity with the Constitution.

    On September 4, the Constitutional Court delivered a verdict, partly approving Kocharyan’s motion.

    The Constitutional Court ruled that Article 35 of the Criminal Procedures Code contradicts respective articles of the Constitution and is invalid in terms of not envisaging official immunity among the circumstances which exclude criminal prosecution.

    The Constitutional Court, however, ruled that paragraph 2 of Article 135 is constitutional.

    Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

    Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 04-09-19

    Emma Jilavian

    Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 04-09-19

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    17:30, 4 September, 2019

    YEREVAN, 4 SEPTEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 4 september, USD exchange rate up by 0.17 drams to 476.50 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 3.81 drams to 525.01 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.06 drams to 7.18 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 9.92 drams to 580.66 drams.

    The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

    Gold price вup by 190.65 drams to 23559.6 drams. Silver price вup by 2.01 drams to 283.03 drams. Platinum price вup by 204.23 drams to 14415.96 drams.