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Metro Canada
March 26 2011
Armenia, Russia draw 0-0 in Euro 2012 qualifier
AVET DEMURYAN, AP
Published: March 26, 2011 1:12 p.m.
YEREVAN, Armenia - Armenia held visiting Group B leader Russia to 0-0
in their 2012 European Championship qualifier on Saturday.
Russia remained on top while Armenia, enjoying its best-ever
qualifying campaign by playing its last four games unbeaten, climbed
to second, two points behind.
Other Group B contenders Ireland and Slovakia played late Saturday,
against Macedonia and last-place Andorra respectively.
Russia enjoyed most of the possession and missed a host of chances,
while the host was visibly jittery when attacking, opting for
long-range shots that rarely troubled Russia goalkeeper Igor
Akinfeyev.
Armenia had the first chance but Henrik Mkhitaryan fired low and
straight at Akinfeyev from 20 metres in the seventh minute.
Russia's Alexander Kerzhakov connected too lightly when he glanced
wide from a Roman Shishkin cross in the 15th. Minutes later Akinfeyev
parried away a long-range drive from Ghazaryan after a neat buildup.
Russia's first meaningful effort came on 23 minutes with a low drive
straight at the goalkeeper from Alexander Kerzhakov after Alan Dzagoev
played him through.
Armenia nearly handed the lead to Russia when an interception from
defender Hrayr Mkoyan forced goalkeeper Roman Berezovsky into a reflex
save after a Yury Zhirkov cross from the left.
The close call inspired Russia into a sustained period of pressure.
Zhirkov beat two defenders and curled a shot toward Berezovsky's top
corner, but he tipped the shot away. On the half-hour Igor Denisov
played a one-two with Roman Shirokov to burst through, but dragged a
shot wide from the edge of the area.
The visitors missed a double chance just before halftime when
Shirokov's goalbound drive was blocked by Mkoyan, and his followup
shot was palmed away by Berezovsky.
Armenia came out with greater intent after the break with Ghazaryan
shooting straight at Akinfeyev. Soon after, home midfielder Marcos
Pizzelli squared a ball to striker Yura Movsisyan, but the striker
fired wide from six meters with Akinfeyev beaten.
After Kerzhakov struck over from a tight angle, home substitute Edgar
Manucharyan responded in kind from 20 metres despite being in acres of
space on the edge of the Russian penalty area.
Dzagoyev came close on 66 minutes but an Armenian defender lunged to
block, deflecting the ball just over the crossbar.
Berezovsky again rescued Armenia on 72 minutes, diving to smother a
Kerzhakov shot after a surging midfield run and pass from Shirokov.
The goalkeeper watched a power drive from Kerzhakov 25 metres from
goal sail just wide, then Shirokov's placed shot also narrowly missed.
Andrei Arshavin, ineffective for most of the match, curled a
right-footed shot wide with 10 minutes left. Armenia defended
resolutely throughout the final minutes despite Russia coach Dick
Advocaat sending on attackers Pavel Pogrebnyak and Diniyar
Bilyaletdinov.
Lineups:
Armenia: Roman Berezovsky, Sargis Hovsepyan, Robert Arzumanyan (Artak
Edigaryan, 67), Hrayr Mkoyan, Levon Airapetyan, Karlen Lazarian,
Edgar Malakyan (Edgar Manucharyan, 48), Marcos Pizzelli (Artur
Edigaryan, 57), Gevorg Ghazaryan, Yura Movsisyan, Henrik Mkhitaryan.
Russia: Igor Akinfeev, Vasily Berezutsky, Sergei Ignashevich, Roman
Shishkin, Igor Denisov, Konstantin Zyryanov, Roman Shirokov, Alan
Dzagoev, Yuri Zhirkov, Andrei Arshavin (Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, 90),
Alexander Kerzhakov (Pavel Pogrebnyak, 78).
From: A. Papazian
March 26 2011
Armenia, Russia draw 0-0 in Euro 2012 qualifier
AVET DEMURYAN, AP
Published: March 26, 2011 1:12 p.m.
YEREVAN, Armenia - Armenia held visiting Group B leader Russia to 0-0
in their 2012 European Championship qualifier on Saturday.
Russia remained on top while Armenia, enjoying its best-ever
qualifying campaign by playing its last four games unbeaten, climbed
to second, two points behind.
Other Group B contenders Ireland and Slovakia played late Saturday,
against Macedonia and last-place Andorra respectively.
Russia enjoyed most of the possession and missed a host of chances,
while the host was visibly jittery when attacking, opting for
long-range shots that rarely troubled Russia goalkeeper Igor
Akinfeyev.
Armenia had the first chance but Henrik Mkhitaryan fired low and
straight at Akinfeyev from 20 metres in the seventh minute.
Russia's Alexander Kerzhakov connected too lightly when he glanced
wide from a Roman Shishkin cross in the 15th. Minutes later Akinfeyev
parried away a long-range drive from Ghazaryan after a neat buildup.
Russia's first meaningful effort came on 23 minutes with a low drive
straight at the goalkeeper from Alexander Kerzhakov after Alan Dzagoev
played him through.
Armenia nearly handed the lead to Russia when an interception from
defender Hrayr Mkoyan forced goalkeeper Roman Berezovsky into a reflex
save after a Yury Zhirkov cross from the left.
The close call inspired Russia into a sustained period of pressure.
Zhirkov beat two defenders and curled a shot toward Berezovsky's top
corner, but he tipped the shot away. On the half-hour Igor Denisov
played a one-two with Roman Shirokov to burst through, but dragged a
shot wide from the edge of the area.
The visitors missed a double chance just before halftime when
Shirokov's goalbound drive was blocked by Mkoyan, and his followup
shot was palmed away by Berezovsky.
Armenia came out with greater intent after the break with Ghazaryan
shooting straight at Akinfeyev. Soon after, home midfielder Marcos
Pizzelli squared a ball to striker Yura Movsisyan, but the striker
fired wide from six meters with Akinfeyev beaten.
After Kerzhakov struck over from a tight angle, home substitute Edgar
Manucharyan responded in kind from 20 metres despite being in acres of
space on the edge of the Russian penalty area.
Dzagoyev came close on 66 minutes but an Armenian defender lunged to
block, deflecting the ball just over the crossbar.
Berezovsky again rescued Armenia on 72 minutes, diving to smother a
Kerzhakov shot after a surging midfield run and pass from Shirokov.
The goalkeeper watched a power drive from Kerzhakov 25 metres from
goal sail just wide, then Shirokov's placed shot also narrowly missed.
Andrei Arshavin, ineffective for most of the match, curled a
right-footed shot wide with 10 minutes left. Armenia defended
resolutely throughout the final minutes despite Russia coach Dick
Advocaat sending on attackers Pavel Pogrebnyak and Diniyar
Bilyaletdinov.
Lineups:
Armenia: Roman Berezovsky, Sargis Hovsepyan, Robert Arzumanyan (Artak
Edigaryan, 67), Hrayr Mkoyan, Levon Airapetyan, Karlen Lazarian,
Edgar Malakyan (Edgar Manucharyan, 48), Marcos Pizzelli (Artur
Edigaryan, 57), Gevorg Ghazaryan, Yura Movsisyan, Henrik Mkhitaryan.
Russia: Igor Akinfeev, Vasily Berezutsky, Sergei Ignashevich, Roman
Shishkin, Igor Denisov, Konstantin Zyryanov, Roman Shirokov, Alan
Dzagoev, Yuri Zhirkov, Andrei Arshavin (Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, 90),
Alexander Kerzhakov (Pavel Pogrebnyak, 78).
From: A. Papazian