Armenia national football team secured their second win in Group E as second-half goals from Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Aras Ozbiliz in Yerevan snatched them a 2-0 win against Kazakhstan on Sunday, March 26.
Manchester United forward Mkhitaryan broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute and Ozbiliz, a right winger for Turkish club Besiktas, added a second just two minutes later.
Kazakhstan haven’t won a game so far, while one of their defenders, Sergiy Maliy, was sent off in the 64th minute for a second yellow card – a foul on Mkhitaryan.
Armenia manager Artur Petrosyan was forced to make an early substitution following a third minute injury of Gevorg Ghazaryan.
The football federation’s press service on Monday provided an injury update on Ghazaryan.
According to the doctor of the national team Karen Stepanyan, Ghazaryan’s trauma is quite serious, his leg is plastered.
The midfielder will depart for Germany on Monday for examination. In all probability, he will undergo surgery.
Following the match, the head coach expressed confidence that the removal of Maliy from the field allowed Armenians to change the course of the game.
Petrosyan said he is pleased with the team’s performance, at the same time singling out Ghazaryan’s trauma as the most painful moment.
As for Ozbilis, according to the coach, he was not ready 100%, so his output was planned as a substitute (he succeeded Arthur Sarkisov).
Mkhitaryan, who captains the Armenian team, told reporters after the match that it’s not always possible to lead the team, others must take responsibility too.
He did not give an assessment of his own physical shape, since he believes that others should do it.
Commenting on the game itself, he said, the team played well in the first half, but did not use all the scoring chances.
Armenia now sit fifth on the Group E table with six points from five matches behind Poland and Montenegro. Armenia do not play again until June 10, when they are facing Montenegro.
