Upbeat Armenia give Andorra no chance

Armenia followed up their impressive home win against Slovakia by posting a no-nonsense 4-0 defeat of Andorra, with Vardan Minasyan's side emerging as unlikely challengers in the unpredictable UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group B.

Gevorg Ghazaryan gave the home side a dream start with a fourth-minute opener and goals from Henrik Mkhitaryan and Yura Movsisyan added to Armenia's tally before the break to put the result beyond doubt. Marcos Pizzelli then struck on 52 minutes to send his side, at least temporarily, to the top of their qualifying section.

Still on a high from Friday's 3-1 triumph against Slovakia, Armenia hit the ground running. Sargis Hovsepyan headed against the bar from Mkhitaryan's cross on two minutes and shortly afterwards Ghazaryan surged down the left, beat two men and fired past José Antonio Gómes from 25 metres.

Movsisyan cut in from the right on 16 minutes, and although Gómes blocked his powerful shot, Mkhitaryan promptly tidied up from the rebound. Hovsepyan was the architect of Armenia's third, with the team captain beating his marker and crossing for Movsisyan to finish from close range.

The pressure barely let up after the interval, and after Pizzelli had hit the post with one effort, the same player then found the target courtesy of a powerful shot from distance. Andorra were given a little breathing space as Minasyan withdrew Movsisyan, Ghazaryan and Pizzelli in the later stages, but the scoreline was not affected.