England 1-1 Armenia

UEFA European U19 Championship
The Showgrounds, Ballymena
20 July 2005

England suffered a disappointing draw against Armenia in the second match of their UEFA European U19 Championship campaign.

England looked to be on course for all three points after taking a 72nd-minute lead but they were denied by Carl Lombe's equaliser three minutes from time.

Using the depth of talent available to him, England coach Martin Hunter made four changes from the side that drew 1-1 against France on Monday, bringing in Richard Jones, Dexter Blackstock, Phil Ifil and Ryan Smith.

The Three Lions settled well and the first real chance of the game fell for Southampton striker Blackstock. The tall forward met Lee Holmes' left-wing cross with a powerful header, only for goalkeeper Edel Bete to tip the ball over.

With Samuel Petrosyan's Armenian side seemingly content to play very deep England created a number of chances as they dominated the first half, having two goals disallowed.

Both 'goals' came from Mark Noble - the first was not given as the referee saw a foul by Blackstock in the build up whilst Noble himself was adjudged to have been offside when he found the back of the net for a second time.

Armenia nearly capitalised on their good fortune when captain Edgar Manucharyan made a quick break down the right but, with the goal at his mercy, the striker flashed his effort across the face of goal.

Having failed to convert their possession into a goal, England were handed a lifeline three minutes after the break when a handball in the midst of a penalty box melee saw referee Viktor Kassai give them a penalty.

However Grant Leadbitter's spot kick was well saved by Bete, who went the wrong way but saved the Sunderland midfielder's effort with his legs.

England finally got the goal they deserved when, 18 minutes from time, midfielder Aleksandr Petrosyan deflected the ball into his own net under pressure from Southampton centre-back Matthew Mills.

Falling behind seemed to spark Armenia into life and they snatched a late equaliser when Lombe hit an unstoppable effort past David Martin from a yard outside the area.

Indeed the Armenians could have stolen all three points as, deep into injury time, Petrosyan broke clear of the defence only for his shot to be well saved by Martin.

The result, together with France's 3-1 win against Norway, leaves England third in Group B and means only victory against the Norwegians in Newry on Saturday will be sufficient for qualification.

England 1-1 Armenia, UEFA European U19 Championship, 20 July 2005

England: David Martin - MK Dons, Andrew Taylor - Middlesbrough, Matthew Mills - Southampton, Martin Cranie - Southampton (capt.), Phil Ifil - Tottenham Hotspur, Grant Leadbitter - Sunderland, Richard Jones - Manchester United (Ryan Jarvis - Norwich City, 71), Mark Noble - West Ham United, Lee Holmes - Derby County, Dexter Blackstock - Southampton (Matthew Fryatt - Walsall, 61), Ryan Smith - Arsenal.
Subs not used: John Ruddy - Everton, Anthony McMahon - Middlesbrough, James Morrison - Middlesbrough, David Wheater - Middlesbrough, Laurence Wilson - Everton.

Goals: Petrosyan 72 (og)

Armenia: Bete, Chilingaryan, Simonyan, Hovhannisyan (Hovhannisyan, 50), Safaryan, Grigoryan, A. Petrosyan, Zhora Hovhannisyan, Edgar Manucharyan, Stepanyan, Lombe.
Subs not used: Manukyan, Meliksetyan, Fishyan, Meghrabyan, Oseyan, Nranyan.

Goals: Lombe 87

Booked: Dexter Blackstock, 21; Mark Noble, 49; Hovhannisyan, 49; Matthew Fryatt, 82; Grigoryan, 88.

Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)