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Federation of International Football Association FIFA
October 11, 2013 Friday
Last-gasp Movsisyan sinks nine-man Bulgaria
Zurich
Armenia boosted their hopes of clinching Group B's second place in
2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil' qualifying with a dramatic 2-1 victory
over nine-man Bulgaria in Yerevan, denting their opponents' ambitions
in the process.
The hosts took the lead just before half-time, Aras Ozbiliz
despatching a free-kick into the top corner after Bulgaria defender
Nikolay Bodurov had been sent off for a foul on him.
Ivelin Popov got Bulgaria back on level terms with a free-kick of his
own just after the hour, but the visitors' cause was hindered by the
dismissal of midfielder Svetoslav Dyakov moments later and Yura
Movsisyan pressed home Armenia's numerical advantage by netting an
87th-minute winner.
The result lifted Armenia to within one point of Bulgaria as the
battle to finish runners-up behind Italy intensified ahead of the
final round of matches.
Visiting goalkeeper Vladislav Stoyanov produced a brilliant save in
the 19th minute to keep out Ozbiliz's curling right-footed shot. The
Bulgarians were being restricted to harmless long-range efforts until
finally working in Roman Berezovsky ten minutes before the interval,
the Armenia goalkeeper saving Ivelin Popov's left-footed drive with
his feet.
But, when the deadlock was broken in the 44th minute, it was the hosts
who were celebrating. Bodurov was shown a straight red card for a
professional foul on Ozbiliz, who swiftly recovered and sent the
resulting left-footed free-kick into the top-right corner.
Stoyanov was called upon on 52 minutes to pull off the first
noteworthy save of the second half, parrying Artur Sarkisov's 12-yard
attempt. Berezovsky again saved with his feet from Stanislav Manolev's
shot nine minutes into the second period, but five minutes later the
Armenia goalkeeper was beaten.
Georgi Milanov was fouled by Karlen Lazarian, and Popov stepped up to
strike the free-kick into the top-left corner from 25 yards.
Dyakov became the second Bulgaria player to be dismissed just after
the hour when he saw red for a second bookable offence following a
foul on Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
And the hosts made their two-man advantage tell three minutes from
time, Lazarian providing the assist for Yura Movsisyan to lift the
winner over Stoyanov from 12 yards.
It could even have been 3-1, but Stoyanov showed fine reflexes to keep
out a stoppage-time drive from Gevorg Ghazaryan.
Armenia complete their group campaign in Naples against Italy on
Tuesday, while Bulgaria take on Czech Republic in Sofia.
For more information please visit: http://www.fifa.com
From: A. Papazian
October 11, 2013 Friday
Last-gasp Movsisyan sinks nine-man Bulgaria
Zurich
Armenia boosted their hopes of clinching Group B's second place in
2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil' qualifying with a dramatic 2-1 victory
over nine-man Bulgaria in Yerevan, denting their opponents' ambitions
in the process.
The hosts took the lead just before half-time, Aras Ozbiliz
despatching a free-kick into the top corner after Bulgaria defender
Nikolay Bodurov had been sent off for a foul on him.
Ivelin Popov got Bulgaria back on level terms with a free-kick of his
own just after the hour, but the visitors' cause was hindered by the
dismissal of midfielder Svetoslav Dyakov moments later and Yura
Movsisyan pressed home Armenia's numerical advantage by netting an
87th-minute winner.
The result lifted Armenia to within one point of Bulgaria as the
battle to finish runners-up behind Italy intensified ahead of the
final round of matches.
Visiting goalkeeper Vladislav Stoyanov produced a brilliant save in
the 19th minute to keep out Ozbiliz's curling right-footed shot. The
Bulgarians were being restricted to harmless long-range efforts until
finally working in Roman Berezovsky ten minutes before the interval,
the Armenia goalkeeper saving Ivelin Popov's left-footed drive with
his feet.
But, when the deadlock was broken in the 44th minute, it was the hosts
who were celebrating. Bodurov was shown a straight red card for a
professional foul on Ozbiliz, who swiftly recovered and sent the
resulting left-footed free-kick into the top-right corner.
Stoyanov was called upon on 52 minutes to pull off the first
noteworthy save of the second half, parrying Artur Sarkisov's 12-yard
attempt. Berezovsky again saved with his feet from Stanislav Manolev's
shot nine minutes into the second period, but five minutes later the
Armenia goalkeeper was beaten.
Georgi Milanov was fouled by Karlen Lazarian, and Popov stepped up to
strike the free-kick into the top-left corner from 25 yards.
Dyakov became the second Bulgaria player to be dismissed just after
the hour when he saw red for a second bookable offence following a
foul on Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
And the hosts made their two-man advantage tell three minutes from
time, Lazarian providing the assist for Yura Movsisyan to lift the
winner over Stoyanov from 12 yards.
It could even have been 3-1, but Stoyanov showed fine reflexes to keep
out a stoppage-time drive from Gevorg Ghazaryan.
Armenia complete their group campaign in Naples against Italy on
Tuesday, while Bulgaria take on Czech Republic in Sofia.
For more information please visit: http://www.fifa.com
From: A. Papazian