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DERRY BOW OUT IN YEREVAN
Irishfootballonline.com
July 25 2007
Luckless Derry City exited European competition at the first hurdle
today as they fell to a 2-0 aggregate loss to Armenia's Pyunik in
Yerevan. After a scoreless first leg, Derry conceded in both halves.
Derry had chances but having fallen 2-0 behind midway through the
second half, there was no way back despite a couple of late flurries.
Derry packed the midfield for the game but their plans were hampered
after only a minute as captain Barry Molloy picked up a knock. He
would eventually limp off before half-time.
Gevorg Ghazaryan chased an early high ball into the box and as the
ball bounced around in the area Levon Pachajyan had ambitious shouts
for a penalty after colliding with Ken Oman.
Goalkeeper Pat Jennings picked up a booking for time wasting after
only 16 minutes but Derry were doing well at containing the home
side. Kevin McHugh fired over at the other end following a good run
before Slovenian referee Robert Krajnc called a water break midway
through the half and did the same again in the second period.
Pyunik went ahead on 29 minutes when Arsen Avetisyan turned the ball
home at the second attempt. His initial volley from Levon Pachajyan's
cross was pushed out by Jennings. With the Derry defence watching
and Jennings struggling to keep his feet, Avetisyan slipped the ball
between his legs to the net.
Eddie McCallion's speculative shot forced a save after bouncing
awkwardly on the uneven surface. Ken Oman almost rounded off a great
run down the left wing with some reward but saw his shot just curl
past the back post.
Pachajyan twice went close for the home side ten minutes from
half-time. He shot off target after a strong run but wasn't helped
by a tight angle. His initial shot was then saved by Jennings before
hesitancy from McCallion and Darren Kelly almost let Avetisyan in
for another.
Molloy hit a dangerous low bouncing shot just wide before being
withdrawn five minutes before the break.
Derry might well be still in Europe had they been awarded a penalty
in the closing minutes of the first half. Ciaran Martyn broke into
the Pyunik box and Rafael Nazaryan looked to clearly bring him down
just inside the box.
On the stroke of half-time, Sammy Morrow sent Killian Brennan's deep
cross back across the face of goal. Morrow was too close to the endline
when he got the ball and could just divert back across goal where no
Derry player was waiting.
Substitute Greg O'Halloran shot just over the Pyunik bar from well
outside the box. Ghazaryan forced a good near post save from Jennings.
Derry could have levelled and clinched the vital away goal they craved
just after the hour. Kelly headed against the Pyunik crossbar from
Kevin Deery's corner kick.
Just with Derry getting into the game, Pyunik struck to make it 2-0.
Pachajyan crossed low and Ghazaryan slipped the ball past the wrong
footed Derry defence and Jennings.
The goal knocked the stuffing out of Derry and Pachajyan's run
was only halted by a good block from McCallion in the closing ten
minutes. Henrik Mkhitaryan went close moments later from outside the
Derry box.
In the final minute Kelly had another header go close as he powered
at goal from another set-piece only to be denied on the line by
goalkeeper Gevorg Kasparov.
Derry and manager John Robertson will now switch their attentions
back to domestic action and climbing up the League of Ireland Premier
Division table.
Derry City : Jennings, McCallion, Brennan, Oman, Kelly, Molloy
(O'Halloran 41), Martyn, Deery (Higgins 83), McCourt (Farren 64),
McHugh, Morrow.
Irishfootballonline.com
July 25 2007
Luckless Derry City exited European competition at the first hurdle
today as they fell to a 2-0 aggregate loss to Armenia's Pyunik in
Yerevan. After a scoreless first leg, Derry conceded in both halves.
Derry had chances but having fallen 2-0 behind midway through the
second half, there was no way back despite a couple of late flurries.
Derry packed the midfield for the game but their plans were hampered
after only a minute as captain Barry Molloy picked up a knock. He
would eventually limp off before half-time.
Gevorg Ghazaryan chased an early high ball into the box and as the
ball bounced around in the area Levon Pachajyan had ambitious shouts
for a penalty after colliding with Ken Oman.
Goalkeeper Pat Jennings picked up a booking for time wasting after
only 16 minutes but Derry were doing well at containing the home
side. Kevin McHugh fired over at the other end following a good run
before Slovenian referee Robert Krajnc called a water break midway
through the half and did the same again in the second period.
Pyunik went ahead on 29 minutes when Arsen Avetisyan turned the ball
home at the second attempt. His initial volley from Levon Pachajyan's
cross was pushed out by Jennings. With the Derry defence watching
and Jennings struggling to keep his feet, Avetisyan slipped the ball
between his legs to the net.
Eddie McCallion's speculative shot forced a save after bouncing
awkwardly on the uneven surface. Ken Oman almost rounded off a great
run down the left wing with some reward but saw his shot just curl
past the back post.
Pachajyan twice went close for the home side ten minutes from
half-time. He shot off target after a strong run but wasn't helped
by a tight angle. His initial shot was then saved by Jennings before
hesitancy from McCallion and Darren Kelly almost let Avetisyan in
for another.
Molloy hit a dangerous low bouncing shot just wide before being
withdrawn five minutes before the break.
Derry might well be still in Europe had they been awarded a penalty
in the closing minutes of the first half. Ciaran Martyn broke into
the Pyunik box and Rafael Nazaryan looked to clearly bring him down
just inside the box.
On the stroke of half-time, Sammy Morrow sent Killian Brennan's deep
cross back across the face of goal. Morrow was too close to the endline
when he got the ball and could just divert back across goal where no
Derry player was waiting.
Substitute Greg O'Halloran shot just over the Pyunik bar from well
outside the box. Ghazaryan forced a good near post save from Jennings.
Derry could have levelled and clinched the vital away goal they craved
just after the hour. Kelly headed against the Pyunik crossbar from
Kevin Deery's corner kick.
Just with Derry getting into the game, Pyunik struck to make it 2-0.
Pachajyan crossed low and Ghazaryan slipped the ball past the wrong
footed Derry defence and Jennings.
The goal knocked the stuffing out of Derry and Pachajyan's run
was only halted by a good block from McCallion in the closing ten
minutes. Henrik Mkhitaryan went close moments later from outside the
Derry box.
In the final minute Kelly had another header go close as he powered
at goal from another set-piece only to be denied on the line by
goalkeeper Gevorg Kasparov.
Derry and manager John Robertson will now switch their attentions
back to domestic action and climbing up the League of Ireland Premier
Division table.
Derry City : Jennings, McCallion, Brennan, Oman, Kelly, Molloy
(O'Halloran 41), Martyn, Deery (Higgins 83), McCourt (Farren 64),
McHugh, Morrow.