Pyunik hold dominant Dinamo

FC Pyunik and NK Dinamo Zagreb played out a goalless draw in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League second qualifying round tie despite a number of chances for both teams.

Bright opening
The Armenian and Croatian champions both started brightly despite soaring temperatures in Yerevan. The visitors came with the greater reputation and looked more dangerous early on but it was Pyunik who forged the first real opportunity when Markos Pizzelli found himself through on goal following Dejan Lovren's mistake, only for goalkeeper Tomislav Butina to save his shot. At the other end, Dinamo were reduced to attempts from distance by solid defending, yet Edvard Hovhannisyan still had to react quickly to parry a wicked Milan Badelj effort after 32 minutes.

Pyunik pushed back
The home side's No1 then denied Sammir from close range shortly after the restart, before Butina had to stretch himself to deny Pizzelli. With Dinamo dominating possession, Pyunik played on the counterattack and came close to scoring through captain Sargis Hovsepyan on 73 minutes, with a last-ditch tackle ultimately ending his run. Substitute Miroslav Slepička and Igor Bišcan then went close for Dinamo in the closing moments, leaving their opponents the chance to spring an upset in Zagreb next week.