Armenia end away jinx
Saturday, October 9, 2004
Article summary
Finland 0-1 Armenia Samvel Melkonyan's goal gave his nation their first away win in this competition.
Article body
Samvel Melkonyan's 77th-minute goal in Finland gave Armenia their first-ever UEFA European Under-21 Championship away victory.
Late winner
Since entering for the first time in the 1994/96 edition, Armenia had drawn two and lost 21 of their 23 trips in this competition. But today they withstood constant pressure including five clear scoring opportunities for a side that won 1-0 in Armenia last month, before Melkonyan sent a low shot past Niki Mäenpää to settle the game.
Midweek fixtures
Armenia remain bottom of Group 1, albeit only three points off the lead. On Wednesday they welcome the Czech Republic hoping for their first home win in the tournament since defeating Northern Ireland in March 2003. Finland are fourth but level on points with Armenia, and visit the unbeaten Netherlands on Tuesday night.
