By Michael Harutyunyan
ArmeniaNow sports reporter It was a busy week for the Armenian National football team and new head coach Mihai Stoichita.
In two preliminary round matches of EURO-2004 Group Six action, the Armenians came out 1-1, with a victory over Northern Ireland and an 0-3 loss to Spain in a game in which Armenia played better than the final result showed.
Last Saturday at Republican Stadium in Yerevan, Armenia collected three EURO standing points when midfielder Arthur Petrosyan scored and the only goal of the match with only four minutes remaining.
The win was the first victory for the Armenian national side in three years.
On Wednesday the national team traveled to Antonio Amilivia Stadium in Leon, Spain to meet Group 6’s strongest squad.
What was expected as a blowout by the Spanish proved otherwise, at least through the first half, as the Armenians had several scoring opportunities but failed to capitalize.
The Spanish appeared confused at the near-successful attacks of their guests and at the defensive play of goalkeeper Roman Berezowski.
The Armenians had one of their best opportunities of the match in the 20th minute when Arthur Voskanyan passed to Artavazd Karamyan two meters in front of the Spanish goal. But Karamyan was unable to control the ball.
The 0-0 first half score held until the 64th minute when Diego Tristan scored for Spain, followed five minutes later by Ivan Helguera. The final goal came during injury time at 93 minutes, put in by Joaquin Sanchez.
The win and the loss leave Armenia as it began last week, in fourth place of Group 6 and still with a chance to enter the final stage of EURO-2004, which will be taking place in Portugal next year.
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