Armenia vs. Ireland qualifier off to dramatic start: 1st half ends in Armenia's autogoal

 October 11, 2011 - 23:44 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - On October 11, Armenia vs. Ireland UEFA EURO 2012 Group B qualifier launched at Dublin's Aviva Stadium, the squads struggling for a play-off place.

Both teams started off with an attacking game, Ireland showing a rough performance at the very onset.

12 minutes into the match, Cox rushed onto a fick-on but the ball won't come down for him. Eventually, the Ireland striker controlled and, surrounded by a handful of Armenia defenders, laid back to Doyle, whose shot was well saved by Berezovsky.

Half-way into the match, Ireland upped the pressure, creating dangerous passes at Armenia's goal; 26 minutes into the game the arbiter handed a red card to Armenian goalkeeper Berezovsky, asserting the latter sprinted from goal to save the Ireland striker's shot outside the box with hands.

Berezovsky was substituted with 20-year-old goalkeeper Petrosyan, with now a 10-meber Armenia squad in a hard situation.

Only a couple of minutes before the end of the 1st half, Ireland's Duff delivered a low cross from the right which Doyle flicked goalwards, with and Armenia defender Aleksandyan poking the ball into his own net.