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Kuqi leads Finland with two goals in 3-1 win over Armenia
AP Worldstream
Oct 09, 2004
Striker Shefki Kuqi scored twice to lead Finland past Group 1 outsider
Armenia 3-1 in World Cup qualifying Saturday.
Russian-born forward Aleksei Eremenko also scored for Finland, notching his
fifth goal in four qualifiers.
Finland lost its Group 1 opener to Romania, but has since then won three
straight games to share the lead in the group with the Romanians.
Eremenko set up Kuqi, who scored just eight minutes into the game before a
crowd of 7,894. Eremenko curled a free kick past goalkeeper Armen Ambartsumian
in the 28th to make it 2-0.
Armenia, which lost 2-0 at home to the Finns a month ago, pulled one back
four minutes later through Armen Sjahgeldian's free kick goal. His shot was
deflected off Sami Hyypia and left Finnish keeper Antti Niemo without a chance.
Kuqi struck again in the 87th minute for his second goal.
Finland now travels to the Netherlands to play the group favorite on
Wednesday.
___
Lineups:
Finland: Antti Niemi; Petri Pasanen, Toni Kuivasto (Teemu Tainio, 46), Sami
Hyypia, Janne Saarinen (Toni Kallio, 69); Mika Nurmela, Aki Riihilahti, Mika
Vayrynen, Joonas Kolkka (Jonathan Johansson, 83); Alexei Eremenko, Shefki Kuqi.
Armenia: Armen Ambartsumian; Rafael Nazarian, Karen Dohojan, Sargis
Hovsepian, Harutjun Vardanian, Alexander Tateosian; Hamlet Mkhitarian, Romik
Hatsjatrian (Karen Alexajan, 36), Armen Sjahgeldian, Davit Grigorian (Edgar Manucharjan,
61); Andrej Movsesian (Ara Hakobian, 84).
AP Worldstream
Oct 09, 2004
Striker Shefki Kuqi scored twice to lead Finland past Group 1 outsider
Armenia 3-1 in World Cup qualifying Saturday.
Russian-born forward Aleksei Eremenko also scored for Finland, notching his
fifth goal in four qualifiers.
Finland lost its Group 1 opener to Romania, but has since then won three
straight games to share the lead in the group with the Romanians.
Eremenko set up Kuqi, who scored just eight minutes into the game before a
crowd of 7,894. Eremenko curled a free kick past goalkeeper Armen Ambartsumian
in the 28th to make it 2-0.
Armenia, which lost 2-0 at home to the Finns a month ago, pulled one back
four minutes later through Armen Sjahgeldian's free kick goal. His shot was
deflected off Sami Hyypia and left Finnish keeper Antti Niemo without a chance.
Kuqi struck again in the 87th minute for his second goal.
Finland now travels to the Netherlands to play the group favorite on
Wednesday.
___
Lineups:
Finland: Antti Niemi; Petri Pasanen, Toni Kuivasto (Teemu Tainio, 46), Sami
Hyypia, Janne Saarinen (Toni Kallio, 69); Mika Nurmela, Aki Riihilahti, Mika
Vayrynen, Joonas Kolkka (Jonathan Johansson, 83); Alexei Eremenko, Shefki Kuqi.
Armenia: Armen Ambartsumian; Rafael Nazarian, Karen Dohojan, Sargis
Hovsepian, Harutjun Vardanian, Alexander Tateosian; Hamlet Mkhitarian, Romik
Hatsjatrian (Karen Alexajan, 36), Armen Sjahgeldian, Davit Grigorian (Edgar Manucharjan,
61); Andrej Movsesian (Ara Hakobian, 84).