February
Newsfile

Newsfile Archive

The East Europeans took the lead when an Andy Legg pass was cut out and the Armenians scored from the resulting break.

Wales scored twice, one either side of half time from John Hartson but the Armenians always looked dangerous. They pulled it back to 2 - 2 with a cannonball shot from 25 yards.

The game could have gone either way but a long throw from Leggy was beaten away when it could have spelt the winner for Wales in injury time.

Now its onto Cardiff and the Millenium Stadium for the visit of Ukraine on Wednesday. Lets hope Andy plays again.

Report form www.skysports.com
Wales had to settle for a point after a John Hartson double either side of half-time looked like sealing a priceless win for Mark Hughes' men.

The big striker fired the visitors into the lead after 49 minutes but an unstoppable 25-yard rocket from Andrei Movsesyan means a win against Ukraine on Wednesday is vital if Wales are to keep their dreams of World Cup qualification alive.

Wales put in a combative performance in very difficult conditions in the Armenian capital of Yereven but failed to kill off their resolute opponents, who nearly snatched a dramatic late winner after twice breaking clear of the Welsh backline.

But Hughes will be encouraged by the way his team bossed large parts of the game and also by the performance of Coventry strike duo Craig Bellamy and Hartson, who both played their part in a good team display.

Armenia, who stormed into an early two goal lead in their clash with the Ukraine in October, were clearly ruffled by Wales' approach to the game and failed to muster a single chance in the opening half hour.

Indeed it was the Welsh who had the better of the opening exchanges with the best effort falling to veteran striker Dean Saunders, making an outfield record 74th appearance for his country. Andy Legg put the home side's defence in disarray following one of his trademark long throws but when the ball fell to the Bradford frontman, he fired inches wide from 15-yards.

The hosts were distinctly second best in all departments until Cardiff defender Legg gifted them the lead. After needlessly giving possession away in the middle of the park, Armenia broke through and as Legg challenged Dohoian, the ball fell to Artak Minasyan, who made no mistake from six yards.

Saunders was denied after 39 minutes when his close-range strike was superbly kept out by Armenian keeeper Arutyun Abramyan who produced a point blank save.

However Welsh hearts were to be lifted five minutes before the interval thanks to a tremendous strike from Hartson. The ex-Arsenal and West Ham hitman skipped through two Armenian challenges before brilliantly flighting the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box.

And it was to get even better for Wales shortly after the re-start when Hartson was on target again to put his country in with a real chance of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1958. Substitute Matthew Jones floated in a free-kick from the edge of the area and Hartson was on hand to power in an unstoppable header, leaving Abramyan with no chance.

Wales, who will be boosted on Wednesday by the return of wing wizard Ryan Giggs,  looked good to hold on for victory with Gary Speed working tirelessley in midfield and Andy Melville marshalling his defence to great effect but all their hard work was undone by a fantastic 67th minute strike from Andrey Movsesyan.

The Armenian midfield man picked up posession and smashed the ball past the despairing dive of Paul Jones, who had hardly had a save to make before that wonderstrike, which sent all in the Republican Stadium into raptures.

Undeterred, the Welsh came forward and Hartson had the chance to bag a hat-trick but the powerful frontman failed to hit the target with a close-range header.

Vardanyan nearly put the hosts ahead following a blistering 25-yard free-kick which flew inches wide of the post before Armenia were reduced to ten men after Albert Sargsyan was dismissed for two bookable offences, but neither side could muster the all important winning strike.

Wales will feel they had done enough to register three vital qualification points after a workmanlike display but it was not to be and Ukraine, who have Serie A top marksman Andrei Shevchenko leading their attack, will provide a much sterner test at The Millenium Stadium on Wednesday.