Armenia round-up: Pyunik grateful to player walk out

FC Pyunik moved to within a point of Armenian Premier League leaders FC Spartak Yerevan today after they were awarded a 3-0 victory over FC Ararat Yerevan.

Pitch protest
Ararat's players walked off the pitch after just two minutes of their match at Pyunik in protest at the Armenian Football Federation's (AFF) decision to allow the transfer of Aghvan Mkrtchian from Ararat to last season's champions Pyunik. Mkrtchian was contracted to Ararat but wanted to leave the club to sign for Pyunik. The AFF intervened and allowed the player to move.

Four for Ara Hakobian
Yerevan maintained their place at the top of the table with a 6-1 away win against struggling FC Lori. Striker Ara Hakobian scored four times - two either side of half-time - and further late goals from Aram Hakobian and Hayk Hakobian completed a merciless display from the league leaders, while Hakob Mamulian grabbed an 85th-minute penalty consolation for the home side.

Score draw
In the other match played today, fifth-placed FC MIKA were held to a 2-2 draw by FC Lernayin Artsakh. Edik Manucharian put MIKA ahead in the 29th minute, but Marat Hovhannisyan levelled the scores seven minutes later. Armen Babayan then put Lernayin 2-1 up five minutes after half-time before Arsen Dallakian salvaged a draw for MIKA nine minutes from full-time.