Bete heroics deny Macedonians
Saturday, June 4, 2005
Article summary
Armenia 0-0 F.Y.R. Macedonia Home goalkeeper Edel Bete frustrates the visitors' ambitions.
Article body
By Khachik Chakhoyan
F.Y.R. Macedonia missed the chance to keep the pressure on the top three in UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying Group 1 as they were held in Armenia.
Penalty save
The home side dominated the match early on, but could not create any clear-cut chances. F.Y.R. Macedonia, however, concentrated on rapid counterattacks and threatened the Armenian goal on several occasions. Captain Darko Tasevski missed their best chance as he struck a penalty straight at 18-year-old Armenia goalkeeper Edel Bete, and Blaze Ilijoski, Nikola Gligorov and Aleksandar Stojanovski all went close.
Bete impresses
But Bete, who had also kept a clean sheet last time out in a goalless game against the Netherlands, held firm, and in the closing stages denied Zlatko Tanevski, Danio Masev and Ilijoski, the latter also hitting the post eight minute from time.
Midweek matches
Today's visitors are now three points behind second place but can move level with the Czech Republic should they win there on Tuesday. The following day Armenia, in fifth, visit current leaders Romania.
