Armenia's dreams go down in flames

Brutal awakening
Four Armenian league sides were involved in the opening rounds of the UEFA Intertoto Cup, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup and none survived their opening fixtures. Of the eight games played by Armenian clubs in European competition, six were lost and two were drawn. Given the progress made at international level in recent years, it was a brutal disappointment.

Away goals
FC MIKA's defeat by FC Tiraspol in the opening final UEFA Intertoto Cup was almost a good result in the context. At home, they surrendered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2, and then dominated the return leg in Moldova, losing on away goals after the match ended goalless. Captain David Grigoryan fumed: "We were the better side. We paid for our failure to convert chances. Those goals we let in at home cost us dear."

Anorthosis strength
Champions FC Pyunik took their 3-0 aggregate UEFA Champions League first qualifying round loss to Cyprus's Anorthosis Famagusta FC on the chin. "We were beaten by strong opponents," said president Karen Harutyunyan. "Our players did their best but Anorthosis had quality and skill. We have mostly young players and such games are very useful for the future."

Banants mauled
Banants could not put such a positive spin on their 10-0 aggregate UEFA Cup first qualifying round mauling at the hands of FC Salzburg. "We put a black spot on the reputation of Armenian clubs in Europe," conceded president Sargis Israelyan. "Our opponents were a cut above and our young team were not ready for such games. The 17 and 18-year-olds were lost. It was a useful lesson for us."

'Not enough'
Ararat fared slightly better against AC Bellinzona in the same competition, losing 1-0 at home but playing well in a 3-1 away defeat. "We had one of our best games in Switzerland, but we were not clinical up front again," said coach Varuzhan Sukiasyan. "I liked the lads' commitment. They did their best, but that was not enough." A fitting epitaph for the Armenian clubs' campaign, perhaps.