Armenia round-up: Shirak maintain winning streak

Armenian Premier League leaders FC Shirak recorded a fifth straight victory with a 2-0 home win against Armenian Cup winners FC MIKA.

Sweet revenge
Shirak and MIKA have met three times during the last fortnight, including a 3-0 win by MIKA in the cup semi-finals, so the team from Gyumri were desperate for revenge inside the City stadium this weekend. Artyom Hakobyan opened the scoring after 37 minutes, before team-mate Artak Adamyan was sent off on the hour mark.

Numerical advantage
However, Shirak refused to let MIKA's numerical advantage count for anything and they managed to extend their lead through Ararat Harutyunyan, who scored after capitalising on a mistake by MIKA goalkeeper Feliks Hakobyan.

Pyunik keep pace
Champions FC Pyunik remain a point behind Shirak following a 3-0 success against FC Lernagorts. Pyunik created several excellent chances and dominated much of the possession, with captain Vardan Minasyan breaking the deadlock on 24 minutes. Issa Traore doubled the lead four minutes before half-time and Edgar Manucharyan claimed the third with a header shortly after the hour.

Banants bounce back
FC Banants bounced back from their cup final defeat against MIKA to register a 3-1 win against FC Dinamo-2000 Yerevan. Banants' Ara Hakobyan saw his seventh-minute penalty saved but converted at the second attempt, before Aram Hakobyan added a second with a magnificent 35-metre effort ten minutes later. Dinamo's Garik Sukiasyan reduced the deficit on 67 minutes but Ara Hakobyan sealed the victory 15 minutes from time.
 
Kocharyan double
Elsewhere, FC Kotayk retained third place in the standings as they beat FC Araks 2-0 thanks to Artur Kocharyan's double strike on 15 and 25 minutes.