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This season is jubilee for the Armenian football. The standard-bearer of the Armenian football, Yerevan’s “Ararat” is completing the anniversary of its 30th glorious victory. In 1973 a bright and unrepeated page was written in the chronology of our football. “Ararat” accomplished a real sporting feat winning the most reputable titles of the Soviet football, the gold medals of the country’s champion and the crystal cup. The victory was achieved in an unyielding struggle with the competitors, due to the mature mastery, brave and fighting character of the football players and due to the fruitful training activity of the well-known coach Nikita Simonyan. The footballers of “Ararat-73” were indeed knights both with their incomparable mastery and their attitude towards football.
In 1973 the whole country lived with football. On football days everywhere the main topic of the conversation was football. The main assembly place of football fans, “Komaygy” (the park of Komitas) was always crowded. Yes, surely the game had attracted, fascinated all, even women who leaving their household chores unfinished, sat enthusiastically in front of the TV set. The enthusiasm and ardour was unlimited both in Armenian and Diaspora.
The double success of “Ararat” was by no means incidental. The previous generations of the footballers and the coaches had prepared rich, fertile soil. The team’s basis of the professional formation laid Artyom Falyan, Alexander Ponomaryov and Nikolay Glebov. Two years earlier in 1971 “Ararat” won the reputation of a serious competitor winning for the 1st time the silver medal of the Soviet Union Championship under the leadership of N. Glebov. And in 1973 Nikita Simonyan, one of the most authoritative coaches of the Soviet Union, together with his devoted assistants Robert Tsaghikyan, Hovh. Abrahamyan, Haroutyun Keheyan applying energy and effort, created an efficient team taking “Ararat” to the two heights of glory.
I am lucky that I have had the chance to watch the splendid games of “Ararat”, to marvel their unique play, their mastery technique and their expertise. So, I suggest to cast a retrospective glance at the blissful times when “Ararat” made a holiday in the championship of the country. In connection with the 30th anniversary of the glorious victory the editorial staff begins to publish a series of articles on the matches of “Ararat-73”, which will certainly arouse pleasant memories in many of the football fans.
Nikita Simonyan is at the head of “Ararat”.
After the end of the 1972 season where “Ararat” was in the 4th place under the supervision of Nikita Glebov, the coach of the team was assigned Honoured trainer of the USSR, Honoured Master of Sports, one of the most authoritative experts of the Soviet football. Nikita Simonyan Football fans cherished great hopes with the invited celebrated expert, being sure of the fact that under Simonyan’s supervision “Ararat” might achieve football heights. For a long time Simonyan had played in the USSR national team and in Moscow’s “Spartak” and was distinguished for his high technical mastery and effectiveness. Biding, farewell to football, Simonyan started to work as a coach in his dear club achieving the titles of the country’s champion and cup-holder.
Under N. Simonyan’s supervision “Ararat” began the preparations of the new season on January 10, 1973 in Yerevan, then it went to Gagra for a teaching and training gathering. At first the new coach had put the main stress on the raise of training effectivity. In one of his first interviews to ‘’Hayastani Fizkulturnik’’ Simonyan had mentioned: “The footballers are trained with zeal and conscientiously though the amount of work is great. Our main task is to be in a good athletic form during the competition season. It is very pleasant for me to work with these boys as they are assiduous and promising. These football players are agile, that can apply to slim actions and confuse the competitors. Lately a rumour is spread that the players cannot control their emotions, passions. Certainly, in the coming championship the referees will be particularly strict with our team. However, I’m not of the same opinion. To me, our boys can be disciplined, and if they get angry in the sports ground, they will use the anger to make the game more effective. They say the southerness do not bear great amount of work. The members of the team refuted that fact. I am pleased with their attitude towards training and their physical fitness”. Parallelly the boys had several checking meetings with “Dinamo” 5-0 of Sukhumy (goals: Margarov, Haroutunyan, Poghosyan), “Stal” of Orlo 3-0 (goals Zanazanyan, Poghosyan, Margarov), “Dinamo” of Kiev 0-1 (Kolotov), “Zenith” of St. Petersbourg 0-0, “Dnipr” of Dnipropetrovsk 1-0 (E. Haroutunyan). These meetings enabled the coaches to check the preparedness of the players and to work out different tactical versions.
The First Cup Obstacle is got over
The 1st match of the 1973 season took place on March 16, in the ‘’Republican’’ stadium. In the 1st leg of the 1/16 final of the USSR Cup “Ararat” hosted “Alga” Frunze whose coach was N. Glebov. Being well aware of the players’ possibilities, he laid the emphasis on quick counterattacks. At the initial period ‘’Ararat’’ players were not ready psychologically and could not regulate the game. Soon they found their game, and on the hour the combination Zanazanyan-Khazaryan-Eduard Harutyunyan the latter opened the score. The second leg match in Frunze took place on April 1. The only goal scored by Khazaryan in the 83rd minute once again gave a well-deserved victory to ‘’Ararat’’. So ‘’Ararat’’ the first obstacle for the crystal cup had been got over. ‘’Ararat’’ was in the 1/8 final of the Сup were according to the draw ‘’Ararat’’ had to meet with ‘’Neftchi’’ Baku.
Both matches were to take place in June.
Victorious start
The USSR 35th championship was of great interest for the fans. The current championship were to be held with a new regulation. According to the new regulation the in case of draw the winner of the match had to be decided by 11m. penalty shoot-out. In case of a win in full time the winner were to get 2, and the winner by 11m. penalty shoot-out only 1point.
According to the draw ‘’Ararat’’ had to start the championship with a home match against the undisputed leader of the USSR championship of the last 10 years ‘’Dinamo’’ Kiev. By the way in the previous season ‘’Dinamo’’ Kiev took silver medals losing the title of the champion to ‘’Zarya’’ of Voroshilovgrad. Worth mentioning that in previous 24 matches against ‘’Dinamo’’ Kiev ‘’Ararat’’ managed to win only 2 battles (1949 2:1, 1970 2:0).
On April 7 in ‘’Hrazdan’’ stadium with the wistle of the match referee Valentin Lipatov ‘’Ararat’s’’ first match of the championship started. The visitors started the match in a very confident manner and in the 5th minute due to Puzaches accurate pass Blokhin opened the score. During first minutes of the mathe ‘’Ararat’’ players were not ready psychologically and could not regulate the game. Fortunately soon ‘’Ararat’’ players found their game, and thanks to Zanazanyan’s perfect pass A. Andreasyan equalized the score with a perfect header. 8 minutes later the hosts scored another beautiful goal. Swift Khazaryan who substituted Sargsyan passed round Fomenko and Rudakov and sent the ball to the net.. At the second half of the game “Ararat” gained an advantage over the rival. They created some dangerous moments in front of “Dinamo’s” goals. Feeling the danger of defeat, the coach of “Dinamo” Al. Sevidov sent Burjak and Semyonov to the pitch trying to strengthen the attacking line of the team. At the end of the match “Ararat” reached a new success: for the third time Andreassyan made Rudjakov take out the ball from the net. During this game A. Andreasyan displayed his best qualities, and was awarded the special prize for the best player given by “Avangard”. The representative of the USSR Football Federation B. Nabokov described Andreassyan’s way of playing as follows. “In Andreassyan’s technique one may see the best that our midfielders have. He can change the tempo of the game unexpectedly. “Ararat’s” attacks were original and interesting due to A. Andreassyan”.
Everything was decided by 11m. penalty shoot-out
In the second tour of the championship on April 14 “Ararat” hosted the champion of the country “Zarya” of Voroshilovgrad in “Hrazdan” stadium. The stadium was full of approximately with 80 thousand spectators. “Ararat’s” triumphant start had excited its fans, that had come to enjoy a new victory of their favourite team. During the preceding season “Zarya” was the only team that managed to win “Ararat” twice. Before the game the captain of our team Hovhannes Zanazanyan was awarded “To the Aggressive Guest” prize, that “Ararat” won in 1972 for scoring 16 points (the top quantity) during their 15 away meetings. The referee Rudnev announced the start of the match, and soon the old rivals missed their good chance of opening the score. Despite the great desire of “Ararat” to score a goal, they couldn’t win the opponent’s goal. For unknown reasons our players followed individual game, delayed the transmissions, and “Zarya” could gain an advantage. During the first half of the match Andreassyan and Khazaryan had a good chance to score a goal, but they were slow in their movements and the defender Zhuravlyov managed to take the ball to the corner.
The second half of the match began with stormy and violent attacks of “Ararat”, but “Zarya” defended itself jointly, calmly. And when during a usual attack our team lost the ball just in the middle of the field, Yeliseev quickly went round A. Haroutunyan, and sent the ball to the goal. An hour later “Ararat” equalized the score. The game ended in a draw – 1:1, and in accordance with the new contest rules the winner would be decided with the helps of 11m penalty shoot-out. The tension reached its climax. It is difficult to describe the situation in the stadium, when the next player was about to kick the ball. After each successful strike the stadium burst into thunder of applause. “Zarya” realized 3 11m penalty shoots, and “Ararat” realized 4. The right of the last decisive shot belonged to Zanazanyan. With one powerful strike he put an end to that tense and interesting battle giving one point to the team. After two tours “Ararat” gained 3 points and was in the 3rd place of the table. As to A. Andreassyan with 3 goals he became the topscorer of the newly started championship. We may say, that the return match over “Zarya” took place. Taking into account the existence of the serious rivals of “Ararat’’, Nikita Simonyan dreamt of acquiring 3 points during the 1st 2 meetings. The players managed to fulfill their coach’s dream.
1st Tour
“Ararat” – “Dinamo” Kiev 3:1 (2:1)
April 7. “Hrazdan” stadium 64.000 spectators
Referee: V. Lipatov (Moscow)
“Ararat” – Abrahamyan – 5, Gevorgyan – 5, A. Haroutyunyan – 5, Kovalenko – 5, Mesropyan – 5, Andreasyan – 5, Sargsyan (Poghosyan 25 – 5), Ishtoyan – 5, N. Petrosyan – 5, Zanazanyan – 5, Khazaryan – 5.
“Dinamo” – Rudakov – 2, Damin – 3, Phomenko – 3, Matvienko – 3 (Semyonov 52-3), Dotsenko – 4, Troshkin – 4, Muntyan – 3, Puzach – 3 (Buryak 62), Kolotov – 3, Veremeev – 3, Blokhin – 3.
Goals: Blokhin (6), Andreasyan (34, 84), Khazaryan (42).
Troshkin was booked.
Substitutes 0:0, 5:4 11m
“Dinamo” Tb. – “Zarya” 1:1, 4:2 11m
“Kayrat” – “Dinamo” M. 1:0
“Pakhtakor” – “Torpedo” 1:2
“Shakhtar” – “Spartak” 2:1
“SKA” – “Dinamo” Mn. 1:2
“Dnipr” – ‘’CSKA” 4:1
“Karpats” – “Zenith” 2:2, 5:4 11m
2nd Tour
“Ararat” – “Zarya” 1:1 (0:0), 4:3 11m
April 14, “Hrazdan” stadium 75.000 spectators.
Referee: V. Rudakov (Moscow)
“Ararat” - Abrahamyan – 4, Gevorgyan – 4, A. Haroutyunyan – 4, Kovalenko – 4, Mesropyan – 4, Andreasyan – 4, Poghosyan – 4, Ishtoyan – 4, N. Petrosyan – 4, Zanazanyan – 4, Khazaryan – 4.
“Zarya” – Tkachenko – 4, Abramov- 2 (S. Kuznetsov 46-4), Maligin – 4, Pinchuk – 3, Vasenin – 4, Zhuravlyov – 4, V. Kuznetsov – 4, Belousov – 3 (Morozov 84), Eliseev – 3, Kuskov – 4, Onishchenko – 3.
Goals: Eliseev (64), Andreasyan (70 11m).
11m penalties were realized by Kovalenko, Andreasyan, Ishtoyan, Zanazanyan, Pinchuk, Morozov, Onishchenko.
11m penalties failed to realize N. Petrosyan, Abrahamyan, S. and V. Kuznetsovs, Zhuravlyov.
Pinchuk and Onishchenko were booked.
Substitutes: 0:1
“Dinamo” Tb. – “Dinamo” K. 0:1
“Pakhtakor” – “Dinamo” M. 2:0
“Kayrat” – “Torpedo” 1:1, 4:3 11m
“SKA” – “Spartak” 1:1, 6:5 11m
“Shakhtar” – “Dinamo” Mn. 1:0
“Dnipr” – “Zenith” 3:1
“Karpats” – “CSKA” 0:0, 4:5 11m
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