Tweet
IRELAND BEATS ARMENIA 2-1 TO MAKE EURO PLAYOFFS
Fox News
Oct 11 2011
DUBLIN (AP) - Ireland qualified for the playoffs for next year's
European Championship after capitalizing on Armenia goalkeeper Roman
Berezovski's disputed sending-off to win 2-1 at home on Tuesday.
Berezovski was red-carded in the 26th minute for handling an attempted
lob by Ireland striker Simon Cox outside his area, although television
replays suggested the ball hit the goalkeeper's chest.
Ireland took full advantage, going ahead in the 42nd through Valeri
Aleksanyan's own goal before center back Richard Dunne added a second
in the 59th.
Henrik Mkhitaryan replied two minutes later for Armenia, which would
have finished runner-up in Group B with a win in Dublin, before
Ireland striker Kevin Doyle was shown a second yellow card in the 80th.
The victory wasn't enough for the Irish to top the group because
Russia beat Andorra 6-0, maintaining its two-point lead.
Armenia was attempting to reach the finals of a major tournament
for the first time but its hopes virtually disappeared when Spanish
referee Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez sent Berezovski off.
In addition to the fact that Berezovski may not have touched the ball
with his arm, Gonzalez should have whistled moments earlier because
Cox had controlled the long through ball from Glenn Whelan with his
outstretched right arm.
Ireland was on the wrong end of a referee's handball decision two years
ago in a qualification playoff against France for the 2010 World Cup.
On that occasion, the official didn't see France striker Thierry Henry
bring down a cross with his hand, before centering for William Gallas
to score the crucial goal in extra time.
Ireland also finished with 10 men after Doyle was dismissed for
elbowing his marker as he challenged for a high ball, but the damage
had been done by then for Armenia.
Aleksanyan's own goal was completely avoidable, the defender glancing
the ball into his own net from five yards (meters) without an Irishman
near him after Doyle had failed to get anything on Damien Duff's cross.
Dunne then scored his first international goal in two years, bundling
in a cross from Aiden McGeady that was flapped at by replacement
goalkeeper Arsen Petrosyan.
Armenia was given a flicker of hope two minutes later when Ireland
goalkeeper Shay Given failed to keep out Mkhitaryan's curling shot
from edge of area.
However, Ireland survived without any further trouble and awaits its
playoff opponent in Thursday's draw.
---
Lineups:
Ireland: Shay Given, John O'Shea, Sean St. Ledger, Richard Dunne,
Stephen Kelly, Damien Duff, Keith Andrews, Glenn Whelan (Keith Fahey,
76), Aiden McGeady (Stephen Hunt, 67), Kevin Doyle, Simon Cox (Jon
Walters, 80).
Armenia: Roman Berezovski, Sargis Hovsepyan, Karlen Lazarian, Marcos
Pizzelli (Edgar Manucharyan, 62), Edgar Malakyan (Arsen Petrosyan,
28), Gevorg Ghazaryan (Artur Sarkisov, 62), Yura Movsisyan, Hrayr
Mkoyan, Valeri Aleksanyan, Henrik Mkhitaryan, Levon Hayrapetyan.
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/sports/2011/10/11/ireland-beats-armenia-2-1-to-make-euro-playoffs/
Fox News
Oct 11 2011
DUBLIN (AP) - Ireland qualified for the playoffs for next year's
European Championship after capitalizing on Armenia goalkeeper Roman
Berezovski's disputed sending-off to win 2-1 at home on Tuesday.
Berezovski was red-carded in the 26th minute for handling an attempted
lob by Ireland striker Simon Cox outside his area, although television
replays suggested the ball hit the goalkeeper's chest.
Ireland took full advantage, going ahead in the 42nd through Valeri
Aleksanyan's own goal before center back Richard Dunne added a second
in the 59th.
Henrik Mkhitaryan replied two minutes later for Armenia, which would
have finished runner-up in Group B with a win in Dublin, before
Ireland striker Kevin Doyle was shown a second yellow card in the 80th.
The victory wasn't enough for the Irish to top the group because
Russia beat Andorra 6-0, maintaining its two-point lead.
Armenia was attempting to reach the finals of a major tournament
for the first time but its hopes virtually disappeared when Spanish
referee Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez sent Berezovski off.
In addition to the fact that Berezovski may not have touched the ball
with his arm, Gonzalez should have whistled moments earlier because
Cox had controlled the long through ball from Glenn Whelan with his
outstretched right arm.
Ireland was on the wrong end of a referee's handball decision two years
ago in a qualification playoff against France for the 2010 World Cup.
On that occasion, the official didn't see France striker Thierry Henry
bring down a cross with his hand, before centering for William Gallas
to score the crucial goal in extra time.
Ireland also finished with 10 men after Doyle was dismissed for
elbowing his marker as he challenged for a high ball, but the damage
had been done by then for Armenia.
Aleksanyan's own goal was completely avoidable, the defender glancing
the ball into his own net from five yards (meters) without an Irishman
near him after Doyle had failed to get anything on Damien Duff's cross.
Dunne then scored his first international goal in two years, bundling
in a cross from Aiden McGeady that was flapped at by replacement
goalkeeper Arsen Petrosyan.
Armenia was given a flicker of hope two minutes later when Ireland
goalkeeper Shay Given failed to keep out Mkhitaryan's curling shot
from edge of area.
However, Ireland survived without any further trouble and awaits its
playoff opponent in Thursday's draw.
---
Lineups:
Ireland: Shay Given, John O'Shea, Sean St. Ledger, Richard Dunne,
Stephen Kelly, Damien Duff, Keith Andrews, Glenn Whelan (Keith Fahey,
76), Aiden McGeady (Stephen Hunt, 67), Kevin Doyle, Simon Cox (Jon
Walters, 80).
Armenia: Roman Berezovski, Sargis Hovsepyan, Karlen Lazarian, Marcos
Pizzelli (Edgar Manucharyan, 62), Edgar Malakyan (Arsen Petrosyan,
28), Gevorg Ghazaryan (Artur Sarkisov, 62), Yura Movsisyan, Hrayr
Mkoyan, Valeri Aleksanyan, Henrik Mkhitaryan, Levon Hayrapetyan.
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/sports/2011/10/11/ireland-beats-armenia-2-1-to-make-euro-playoffs/