Arman Karamyan leads FC Timişoara to victory

Gabi Balint's FC Timişoara continued their push with a 3-0 victory over Politehnica Iaşi. Led by the brilliant work the Armenian international Arman Karamyan (Արման Քարամյան), Timişoara took the led at the eleventh minute as he accepted a long diagonal cross on the right and deftly out-maneuvered Iaşi defender Andrej Pečnik before sending the ball to the opposite corner past Iaşi keeper Răzvan Pleşca. Karamyan created a perfect opportunity for the second goal at the thirtieth minute as he crossed to Balázs Borbély in the box but the Slovak capped midfielders volley was easily dealt with by the Iaşi keeper. Timişoara extended its lead eight minutes into the new half via a one-man effort by Gheorghe Bucur who ran under a long ball down the left flank before turning back in front of the goal to score from eight metres. The day was not done as with six minutes left Iaşi keeper Răzvan Pleşca could only partially stop Lukáš Magera's shot from inside the box with the rebound coming to Karamyan's Armenian teammate Artiom Karamyan (Արտավազդ Քարամյան), who turned the ball in from four metres out.

Both clubs return to action on Saturday as Politehnica Iaşi welcomes Unirea Urziceni and FC Timişoara continues their race to catch Dinamo against Gloria Bistriţa.

Armenia claws back to draw 2-2 to Estonia

In the most exciting World Cup qualifying match of the day , Armenia Հայաստան played Estonia to a 2-2 in Yerevan's Republican Stadium,. The match was decided with a stunning goal by Pyunik Yerevan's twenty-year old striker Gevorg Ghazaryan Գեւորգ Ղազարյան netting the equalizer with only two minutes remaining.

Armenia's manager Jan Børge Poulsen squad which was predominantly from the Armenian Premier League Բարձրագույն Խումբ, played with its typical pride and intensity from the start to the very minute. Against the tough Estonian side, the Danish manager called upon Roman Berezovsky Ռոման Բերեզովսկի of FC Khimki to take his place between the posts as he has in fifty-six matches with perennial captain Sargis Hovsepyan Սարգիս Հովսեփյան of Pyunik Yerevan anchoring the back-line with Randers FC's Robert Arzumanyan Ռոբերտ Արզումանյան, Ararat Yerevan's Vahagn Minasyan Վահագն Մինասյան and Mika Yerevan's Aghvan Mkrtchyan Աղվան Մկրտչյան. Using a five man midfield of Levon Pachajyan Լեւոն Պաչաջյան of Fredrikstad FK, Banants Yerevan's Arthur Voskanyan Արթուր Ոսկանյան, Metalurh Donetsk's Ararat Arakelyan Արարատ Առաքելյան, FC Timişoara's Artavazd Karamyan Արտավազդ Քարամյան and Pyunik Yerevan's Henrikh Mkhitarian Հենրիկ Մխիթարյան went forward servicing lone striker FC Timişoara Arman Karamyan Արման Քարամյան.

With points sides showing quality defending, scoring chances were at at premium. Following Arman Karamyan's effort being held back by Estonia 'keeper Sergei Pareiko of Tom Tomsk, Armenia took the lead at the thirty-first minute as Henrikh Mkhitarian's shot took an opportunistic bounce into the netting. Down by one, Estonia canceled the opening goal only five minutes later as Martin Vunk's cross was volleyed in by NK Nafta's Konstantin Vassiljev. Armenia came out with intent right after the break with Pyunik Yerevan's Arthur Yedigaryan Արթուր Եդիգարյան and Hrayr Mkoyan Հրայր Մկոյան of Ulisses Yerevan Ֆուտբոլային Ակումբ Ուլիս Երեւան entering the match. After Arman Karamyan and Levon Pachayan's efforts fell short, the visitors took the lead with a surprise counter nine minutes past the hour. Estonia 'keeper Sergei Pareiko sent a long ball to Sergei Zenjov, of Ukraine side FC Karpaty, who circumvented the Roman Berezovsky and dispatched the ball into the net. However as time wound down Gevorg Ghazaryan fired the ball in and while the Estonian 'keeper came close to pulling the ball back before it crossed the line, Luxembourg referee Luc Wilmes gave the signal that the ball was in.

Photo Credit: Football Federation of Armenia