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March 29 2015
Albania 2-1 Armenia
Surprise packages Albania once again staked their claim for a top-two
finish in Group I with a 2-1 Euro 2016 qualifying win over 10-man
Armenia.
Armenia had taken a fourth-minute lead through Yura Movsisyan, but
after Hovhannes Hambardzumyan saw red in the 70th minute after picking
up a second yellow, Albania collected the three points thanks to goals
from Mergim Mavraj and Shkelzen Gashi.
Albania had secured a surprise 1-0 win over Portugal in September and
followed that up with an encouraging 1-1 draw at home to Denmark.
Their qualifying hopes suffered a blow after a 3-0 win was awarded to
Serbia in their next match after trouble flared between the two sides
at the Partizan Stadium.
Despite the setback, Giovanni de Biasi's side would have hoped to have
completed a routine victory over bottom side Armenia who had picked up
just a single point from their opening three matches.
However, just four minutes in the visitors took a surprise lead when
Movsisyan slotted home from close range after being played in by
Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
The home side showed little intent to get back into the game, with
Sokol Cikalleshi's shot on the half-hour mark, which hit the post, the
only effort of note in the opening 45 minutes.
With 20 minutes left Armenia were reduced to 10 men after
Hambardzumyan received a second booking.
This was to cost the visitors as after 75 minutes the home side drew
level when Mavraj headed home Taulant Xhaka's cross.
And the home side won the game with nine minutes left when Gashi
nodded home from close range.
http://www.espnfc.com/european-championship-qualifying/match/413303/albania-armenia/report
March 29 2015
Albania 2-1 Armenia
Surprise packages Albania once again staked their claim for a top-two
finish in Group I with a 2-1 Euro 2016 qualifying win over 10-man
Armenia.
Armenia had taken a fourth-minute lead through Yura Movsisyan, but
after Hovhannes Hambardzumyan saw red in the 70th minute after picking
up a second yellow, Albania collected the three points thanks to goals
from Mergim Mavraj and Shkelzen Gashi.
Albania had secured a surprise 1-0 win over Portugal in September and
followed that up with an encouraging 1-1 draw at home to Denmark.
Their qualifying hopes suffered a blow after a 3-0 win was awarded to
Serbia in their next match after trouble flared between the two sides
at the Partizan Stadium.
Despite the setback, Giovanni de Biasi's side would have hoped to have
completed a routine victory over bottom side Armenia who had picked up
just a single point from their opening three matches.
However, just four minutes in the visitors took a surprise lead when
Movsisyan slotted home from close range after being played in by
Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
The home side showed little intent to get back into the game, with
Sokol Cikalleshi's shot on the half-hour mark, which hit the post, the
only effort of note in the opening 45 minutes.
With 20 minutes left Armenia were reduced to 10 men after
Hambardzumyan received a second booking.
This was to cost the visitors as after 75 minutes the home side drew
level when Mavraj headed home Taulant Xhaka's cross.
And the home side won the game with nine minutes left when Gashi
nodded home from close range.
http://www.espnfc.com/european-championship-qualifying/match/413303/albania-armenia/report