The First Victory in Baku
Before the championship’s 11th tour, there took place the first matches of the 1/8th final of the USSR Cup. This time ‘’Ararat’s” rival was the representative of the first group, Baku’s “ Neftchi” which in the previous tour relegated top division side Lvov’s “ Karpats’’. In those years matches between leading teams of Caucasus were tense enough. The match for the Cup held in Baku was not an exception. In that match Nazar Petrosyan was in the pitch in stead of Nikolay Khazaryan. For the first time Eduard Margarov played for ‘’Ararat’’ in Baku. After Margarov left Baku for ‘’Ararat’’ the Azerbaijanian fans had been frustrated, so each time the footballer was in Baku both ‘’Ararat’’ and Azerbaijanian team managers were avoiding to include Margarov in the line-up. It was a usual tough match for the Cup. From the first minute the hosts made impetuous attacks to which ‘’Ararat’’ answered with rapid counter-attacks. The first real dangerous situation in front of ‘’Ararat’’ goals was in the 14th minute when Khurbanov failed to open the score. He didn’t manage to volley the ball over goalkeeper. ‘’Ararat’’ had also chances to score a goal. Worth mentioning Margarov’s shrewd, but not strong strike. At the end of first half Kramarenko with an acrobatic jump saved his team after Nazar Petrosyan’s dangerous shot. After the break Margarov was very active, the latter eventually punished the Azerbaijanian side. Skilfully making the free kick Margarov then cheated two defenders marking him, entered the penalty area and opened the score. After this goal the home side with the whole team started to make permanent attacks. But that day ‘’Ararat’ defenders were unmistakable. Our defenders and especially Alyosha Abrahamyan played an excellent game. He denied dangerous shots from Smolnikov and Stekolnikov. Eventually ‘’Ararat’’ managed to hold on and the result gave them a real chance to continue the fight for the Cup in the next stage. By the way it was ‘’Ararat’s’’ first victory in Baku.
Performance worth to leader
On June 13 in ‘’Hrazdan’’ stadium ‘’Ararat’’ hosted one of the leaders ‘’Shakhtar’’ Donetsk. After 10 matches both teams had the same 12 points. So the value of the victory was very high at the particular game. In honour of ‘’Ararat’’ it must be mentioned that they defeated ‘’Shakhtar’’ with a perfect and confident manner, performing a game worth to leader. It was ‘’Ararat’s’’ 3rd victory in a row, with a huge score (4th in the championship). Before the start of the match both footballers and spectators with a minute of silence respected the memory of one of the best representatives of Soviet football and ‘’Ararat’s’’ former head coach Alexander Ponomaryov. Afterwards Arkadi Andreasyan was presented a special prize as the scorer of team’s jubilee 500th goal (it was scored in previous tour against ‘’Pakhtakor’’). Unfortunately for Andreasyan the match lasted only 40 minutes. He became the ‘’victim’’ of the Ukrainians’ strengthy and even rough play. ‘’Ararat’’ midfielder was taken from the pitch in a stretcher. His substitute Ishtoyan played an excellent game, recommending himself as both technically and tactically well-prepared player. He scord his teams 3rd goal. Before scoring the goal he started the quick combination which was continued by Margarov and completed by Khazaryan. The first goal was scored in the 10th minute. Bondarenko’s long-range shot was denied by the goalkeeper Dekhtyaryov, but it was completed by Margarov’s beautiful header. Though the final score was huge, however, the match itself was a tough one. The visitors’ emphasize was put on counter-attacks. Besides that for ‘’Ararat’’ defenders it was very difficult to battle with strong and athletic Ukrainian footballers. However, thanks to deep devotion to the game ‘’Ararat’’ players were permanently marking agressive forwards of the opponent, without giving them a single chance to score a goal. So, if after the previous tour the leaders of the championship were 4, after this one they were only two.
They were defeated on penalty shoot-out
4 days later in Tbilisi met the old rivels. The match was a great interest among spectators. The first half ended with the slight advantage of the hosts. They immediately took decisive actions, transferring high pace to the match. Skilful penetrations from Gutsaev and Tsereteli made dangerous situation in front of ‘’Ararat’s’’ goal. Afterward Rekhviashvili failed to score a goal from short distance. Gutsaev’s shot was denied by woodwork. With one word ‘’Ararat’s’’ defenders were hardly neutralizing the attacks of the opponent. A great job was done by Kovalenko who was very confident that day. Both goalkeepers Abrahamyan and Gogia were unmistakable, saving their teams in difficult situations. The first dangerous counter-attack by ‘’Ararat’’ was organized in the 15th minute, when Khazaryan made rocket shot from Zanazanyan’s pass. But Gogia was on alert. After that Gogia saved his team from Margarov’s effort and Zanazanyan’s long-range shot. The hosts had also some promising situations to open the score. The most dangerous one was Gutsaev’s swift penetration, when Mesropyan hardly took out the ball from unmarked net. After the break the balance in the game was reestablished and in some cases the visitors had advantage over the opponent. In the 61st minute Margarov made a delicate pass to Khazaryan. The very moment when the latter was going to score, Gogia with a selfless jump saved his team. In injury time ‘’Ararat’’ could snatch the victory, when Ishtoyan cheated Dzodzuashfily and made a strike. But once again Gogia saved the Georgians with his acrobatic jump. The match was decided by penalty shoot-out. Though Abrahamyan saved the penalty shoot from Tsereteli and Asatiany failed to score, Gogia gave a hard victory to his team saving shoots from Kovalenko, Zanazanyan and Khazaryan. For the first time ‘’Ararat’’ was defeated on penalty shoot-out. But fortunately they kept their place as the leaders of the championship, for ‘’CSKA’’ lost the match to ‘’Shakhtar’’ on home ground. Again 4 teams had the same number of points.
USSR Cup 1/4 final
‘’Neftchi’’ – ‘’Ararat’’ 0:1 (0:0)
June 5th, Baku ‘’Republican’’ stadium after V. I. Lenin, 17.000 spectators
Referee: Kh. Khruashvili (Tbilisi)
‘’Neftchi’’ – Kramarenko, Khuliev, Khulamov, Uzbekov, Mirzoyan, Lyogki, Javadov, Stekolnikov, Smolnikov, Khurbanov, Abbasov.
‘’Ararat’’ – Abrahamyan, Gevorgyan, Sargsyan, Kovalenko, Mesropyan, Andreasyan, Bondarenko, Ishtoyan (Poghosyan 46), Margarov, Zanazanyan, N.Petrosyan.
Goal: Margarov (48):
‘’Kayrat’’ – ‘’Dinamo’’ K. 1:1
‘’Spartak’’ – ‘’Dinamo’ Tb. 2:1
‘’Dinamo’’ Mn. – ‘’Dnipr’’ 2:0
‘’Zarya’’ – ‘’Shakhtar’’ 2:0
‘’CSKA’’ – ‘’Pakhtakor’’ 3:1
‘’Zenith’’ – ‘’Dinamo’’ M. 1:1
‘’Shakhtar’’ K. – ‘’Chernomorets’’ 0:2
11th Tour
‘’Ararat’’ – ‘’Shakhtar’’ 3:0 (1:0)
13th June, Yerevan, ‘’Hrazdan’’ stadium 56.000 spectators
Referee: A. Ivanov (Leningrad)
‘’Ararat’’ – Abrahamyan -5, Gevorgyan-5, Sargsyan-5, Kovalenko-5,Mesropyan-5, Andreasyan-5 (Ishtoyan, 40-5), Bondarenko-5 (Martirosyan 55-5), Poghosyan-5, Margarov-5, Zanazanyan-5, Khazaryan-5:
‘’Shakhtar’’ – Dektyaryov-3, Yaremchenko-2, Zhukov-2, Belousov-2, Gubich-2, Vankevich-3, Chikhlatze-3 (Zakharov75), Konkov-4, Starukhin-2, Dudinski-2 (Vasin, 70), Safonov-3:
Goals: Margarov (10), Khazaryan (84), Ishtoyan (90)
Zhukov was booked
Substitutes: 1:0
Goal: Zh. Khazaryan
‘’Spartak’’ – ‘’Dnipr’’ 3:1
‘’Zarya’’ – ‘’Pakhtakor’’ 3:1
‘’Dinamo’’ K. – ‘’kayrat’’ 3:1
‘’Dinamo’’ Tb. – ‘’SKA’’ 2:0
‘’CSKA’’ – ‘’Torpedo’’ 3:2
‘’Zenith’’ – ‘’Dinamo’’ M. 2:3
‘’Dinamo’’ Mn. – ‘’Karpats’’ 1:1, 3:5 11m.
12th Tour
‘’Dinamo’’ Tb. – ‘’Ararat’’ 0:0 4:3 11m.
June 17, Tbilisi ‘’Lokomotiv’’ stadium 40.000 spectators:
Referee: K. Andzyulis (Kaunas)
‘’Dinamo’’ – gogia-5, Dzodzuashvili-5, Kanteladze-5, Petriashvili-5, Khinchagashvili-5, Mchedishvili-5, M. Machaidze-5, Asatiani-5, Gutsaev-5, Rekhiashvili-5, (Gavasheli, 20-5), Tsereteli-5:
‘’Ararat’’ – Abrahamyan -5, Gevorgyan-4, Sargsyan-3, Kovalenko-4,Mesropyan-3, Petrosyan-3, (Bondarenko, 46-3), Poghosyan-3, Ishtoyan-4, Margarov-4, Zanazanyan-4, Khazaryan-3:
11m. penalties were realized by Kanteladze, Gavasheli, Mchedishvili, Dzodzuashvili, Ishtoyan, Poghosyan, Margarov
11m. penalties failed Tsereteli, Asatiani, Kovalenko, Zanazanyan, Khazaryan:
Substitutes: 1:1, 1:4 11m.
Goals: Sherezadashvili, Minasyan
‘’Dinamo’’ M. – ‘’Dnepr’’ 1:0
‘’Dinamo’’ K. – ‘’Pakhtakor’’ 3:0
‘’Zenith’’ – ‘’SKA’’ 3:0
‘’CSKA”” – ‘’Shakhtar’’ 0:1
‘’Zarya’’ – ‘’Kayrat’’ 1:0
‘’Torpedo’’ – ‘’Karpats’’ 1:1, 3:4 11m.
www.fcararat.am
|
|
