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Soccer: Algeria sweep aside Armenia

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  • Soccer: Algeria sweep aside Armenia

    Super Sport
    May 31 2014


    Algeria sweep aside Armenia

    31 May 2014, 21:36

    Algeria belied their status as World Cup outsiders blasting three
    first-half goals on their way to a comprehensive 3-1 win over Armenia
    in a festive atmosphere in Sion on Saturday.

    Around 12 000 drum-banging, chanting Algerian fans turned the tiny
    Tourbillon in the usually sleepy Swiss Alpine town into a cauldron,
    appearing to unnerve their opponents in the first half.

    Essaid Belkalem, Nabil Ghilas and Islam Slimani scored before halftime
    as Algeria gave a performance which suggested they could more than
    hold their own against Belgium, Russia and South Korea in Group H at
    the Brazil finals.

    Bathed in evening sunshine and surrounded by snow-capped peaks, the
    Tourbillon provided a stunning setting for a match which saw Leicester
    City midfielder Riyad Mahrez make an impressive debut for Algeria.

    Defender Belkalem, who struggled to get playing time at Watford last
    season, put Algeria ahead in the 13th minute, turning the ball in from
    close range following a corner as Rafik Halliche's run distracted the
    defence.

    The Fennec Foxes increased their lead nine minutes later when Mahrez
    slipped the ball to Ghilas on his right and the Porto player rifled an
    emphatic finish into the roof of the net.

    Algeria continued to pull the Armenians apart with lots of neat moves
    from the midfield trio of Mehdi Lacen, Yacine Brahimi and Adlene
    Guedioura.

    French-raised Brahimi, in particular, brought the crowd to their feet
    with his cheeky skills.

    Slimani missed two chances to put Algeria ahead but the Sporting
    forward finally converted three minutes before halftime, heading in
    the rebound after Ghilas's header had struck the bar.

    Armenia, 33rd in the Fifa rankings compared to Algeria's 25, pulled
    one back within a minute of the re-start when halftime substitute
    Artur Sarkisov burst clear and beat Mohamed Lamine Zemmamouche with a
    low shot.

    The game went off the boil in the second half although substitute El
    Arabi Soudani brought the crowd to their feet with a weaving run but
    was denied by Roman Berezovski's save.

    http://www.supersport.com/football/world-cup-2014/news/140531/Algeria_sweep_aside_Armenia


    From: Baghdasarian
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