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Individual leader
After losing vital points in Tbilisi ‘’Ararat’’ went to Rostov, where they met with ‘’SKA’’ who was last but one in the championship table. In that match hosts did their best to resist ‘’Ararat’’ and even to win the match, but it was not an easy task as ‘’Ararat’’ was much more experienced. ‘’Ararat’’ head coach Nikita Simonyan gave indications to his alumni to attack from wings. And he was not mistaken. The very first attack of his team from the wing ended with a goal. In the 2nd minute of the match Gevorgyan played the ball with Poghosyan and went forward on the right wing, passing the ball to the penalty area. Boychenko couldn’t manage to catch the ball and Ishtoyan who was in the right place in right time, opened the score. Inspired of success ‘’Ararat’’ continued to organize attacks from the wings where especially Ishtoyan was on target. The latter was gradually getting into good shape. Though ‘’CSKA’’ till the end of the first half managed to reestablish the balance in the game, however, the score remained the same. The united game of ‘’Ararat’’ defenders together with the goalkeeper, neutralized all efforts of the opponent. After the break ‘’Ararat’’ had a noticable advantage in the game. Worth mentioning correct and skilful play of midfielders. Bondarenko totaly isolated ‘’SKA’s” captain Eskov. Zanazanyan and Poghosyan permanently supplied the forwards with a ball. Soon ‘’Ararat’’ took his chance and scored second goal. On the hour Margarov and Khazaryan with ‘’one touch passes’’ appeared in the penalty area of the opponent. After Margarov’s shot the ball touched the opposite team’s defender, came back and Zanazanyan took his chance smashing the ball into Boychenko’s net from 17metres. By the way this was his 47th goal in the USSR championships. This gave Zanazanyan a chance to be included in the list of ‘’100 topscorers’’.
After 2:0 victory ‘’Ararat’’ for the first time in the season of 73 became an individual leader. By the interesting coincidence all the leading teams were defeated in 13th tour and ‘’Ararat’’ were leading them with 2 point difference. Defending champion ‘’Zarya’’ lost to ‘’Zenith’’ ‘’at home’’ on penalty shoot-out. ‘’CSKA’’ and ‘’Shakhtar’’ were defeated by ‘’Dinamo’’ Moscow and ‘’Dinamo’’ Tbilisi respectively. As a result 5 teams were chasing ‘’Ararat’’. So the battle for the first place was getting tougher and tougher.
‘’Ararat’’ overcame the next obstacle
Before the penultimate tour of the first circle, took place 1/8 final second leg matches of the USSR Cup. On June 17 ‘’Ararat’’ on home ground had to meet with ‘’Neftchi’’ Baku. First match in Baku ended with ‘’Ararat’s’’ victory 1:0. Lots of people expressed an idea that ‘’Ararat’’ were already in quarter final and the match in Yerevan had a formal character. There were also gossips that the Azerbaijanian side had refused to come to Yerevan keeping themselves for the battle of the USSR championship. Worth mentioning that the gossips had already reached ‘’Ararat’’ footballers and ‘’Ararat’’ coaches were to work hard to prepare their alumni seriously for the battle.
First minutes of the match proved that all the gossips didn’t correspond to the reality, as the match started with visitors’ solid attacks. In the very first minute Abbasov’s powerful shot shattered the woodwork. This brought ‘’Ararat’’ players round and only two minutes later Zanazanyan with a rocket shot from 30 metres opened the score. The goal was something like a ‘’cool shower’’ for ‘’Neftchi’’ players. Soon they realized that the winner of the tie was actually known. However, the spectators were witness of 3 more beautiful goals. In the 22nd minute Dzavadov equalized the score, then before the break Bondarenko again with a long-range shot scored ‘’Ararat’s’’ second goal. The final goal of the match was scored by Margarov who won the battle with Mirzoyan and Kramarenko before netting the ball. ‘’Ararat’’ reached the USSR Cup quarter final where he had to battle with the USSR champion ‘’Zarya’’.
‘’Ararat’’ strengthens his position
In the 14th tour of the championship ‘’Ararat’’ faced ‘’Dinamo’’ in Moscow. ‘’Dinamo’’ were chasing “Ararat’’ in the championship table. In case of success ‘’Ararat’’ could strengthen his leading position, but the failure would let the chasing teams catch up them. In honour of our footballers they remained loyal to tradition. It was already 3rd season that ‘’Ararat’’ didn’t lose in Moscow. ‘’Ararat’’ took vital points from Moscow in a very confident manner, being loyal to all indications given them by the coach. The defenders had been instructed to mark the swift wingers of the opposite team, giving them no chance to enter the penalty area. Successfully neutralizing attacks of the opponent and combining individual play with collective game, ‘’Ararat’’ usually appeared in the penalty area of the rival. In the 20th minute Kovalenko made a rapid penetration from the back and playing a ‘’wall’’ with Margarov appeared in a very promising situation. He made a mighty shot, but it was denied by the post and immediately touched Pilguy’s head. Luckily for ‘’Dinamo’’ the ball didn’t appear in the net. In the 35th minute another powerful drive was done by Zanazanyan. Five minutes later ‘’Ararat’s’’ well-worked out combination was finally completed by Margarov’s accurate shot: 1:0. The hosts had also some real chances, but they were denied due to selfless play from the defenders and especially from the goalkeeper Abrahamyan.
In injury time Margarov could score ance more, but Pilguy was on alert. After the match the opinions of specialists and coaches cocerning the match were as follows:
Nikita Simonyan – I’m completely satisfied with a match, as my team fulfilled tactical indications given by me. All footballers played an excellent match.
Gavril Kachalin (‘’Dinamo’’ head coach) – My warmest congratulations to ‘’Ararat’’ for the victory. I’m thoroughly disappointed with the actions of my team. My alumni didn’t follow my indications at all.
Lev Yashin (‘’Dinamo’’ manager) – ‘’Ararat’’ deserved to win. ‘’Ararat’’ were better team on the night, as they were technically prepared well.
Nikolay Oserov (sport commentator) – I’m just delighted with ‘’Ararat’s’’ modern and beautiful game.
Andrey Starostin (merited master of sports) – I really enjoyed a lot ‘’Ararat’s’’ game. Armenian team performed well organized game.
13th Tour
‘’SKA’’ – ‘’Ararat’’ 0:2 (0-1)
June 24, Rostov on Don, ‘’SKA’’ stadium, 16.000 spectators
Referee: V. Rudnev (Moscow)
‘’SKA’’ – Boychenko-2, Aleksandrov-3, Shergelashvili-2, Mogilni-3, Yu. Churkin-4, V. Bondarenko-4, Antonov-2, Eskov-3, Pleshakov-3, (Ivanov74), V. Churkin-3, Tsibin-2:
‘’Ararat’’ – Abrahamyan-5, Gevorgyan-4, Sargsyan-5 Kovalenko-5,Mesropyan-5, Poghosyan-5, Bondarenko-5, Ishtoyan-5, Margarov-5, Zanazanyan-5, Khazaryan-3, (N. Petrosyan 63)
Goals:Ishtoyan (2), Zanazanyan (60)
Khazaryan was booked
Substitutes: 0:0, 4-5 11m.
‘’Dinamo’’M. – ‘’CSKA’’ 3:0
‘’Torpedo’’ – ‘’Spartak’’ 2:0
‘’Shakhtar’’ – ‘’Dinamo’’ Tb. 0:1
‘’Dnipr’’ – ‘’Karpats’’ 1:1, 4:3 11m.
‘’Dinamo’’ Mn. – ‘’Dinamo’’K. 0:0, 4:5 11m.
‘’Zarya’’ – ‘’Zenith’’ 0:0, 2:4 11m.
‘’Pakhtakor’’ – ‘’Kayrat’’ 4:1
USSR Cup 1/8 final second leg matches
‘’Ararat’’ – ‘’Neftchi’’ 3:1 (2:1)
June 27, Yerevan, ‘’Hrazdan’’ stadium 45.000 spectators:
Referee: A. Milchenko (Sukhumi)
‘’Ararat’’ – Abrahamyan, Gevorgyan, Sargsyan, Kovalenko, Mesropyan, Poghosyan, (Yablukyan, 70), Bondarenko, Ishtoyan, Margarov, Zanazanyan, N. Petrosyan:
‘’Neftchi’’ – Kramarenko, Khuliev, Khulamov, Uzbekov, (Namazov 69), Mirzoyan, Abbasov, Javadov(Leskin 46), Stekolnikov, Banishevski, Khurbanov, Smolnikov:
Goals: Zanazanyan (3), Javadov (22), Bondarenko (35), Margarov (88):
‘’Dinamo’’ Tb. – ‘’Spartak’’ 1:1 (1:2)
‘’Shakhtar’’ – ‘’Zarya’’ 1:0 (0:2)
‘’Pakhtakor” – ‘’CSKA’’ 1:1 (1:3)
‘’Dinamo’’ K. – ‘’Kayrat’’ 2:1 (1:1)
“Dnipr” – “Dinamo” Mn. – 3-0 (0-2), “Chernomorets” – “Shakhtar” K. 3-1 (2-0)
“Dinamo” M. – “Zenith” – 1-1, 5-3 – 11 penalty shots
The results of the first matches are stated in the brackets.
¼ semifinal couples.
“Ararat” – “Zarya”
“Dnipr” – “Spartak”
“Dinamo” M. – “Chernomorets”
“CSKA” – “Dinamo” K.
14 Tour
“Dinamo” M. – “Ararat” – 0:1 (0:1)
July 1, Moscow, “Dinamo” stadium, 35.000 fans.
Referee: – Ya. Balikin (Dnipropetrovsk).
“Dinamo” – Pilguy – 2, Basalaev – 2, Nikulin – 2, Zicov – 2, Dolbonosov – 2, Zhukov – 2, Petroushin – 2, Gershkovich – 2 (Eshtrekov, 46-2), Kozhemyakin – 2, Malchovikov – 2, Yakoubik – 2 (Pudishev, 63-2)
“Ararat” – Abrahamyan – 2, Gevorkyan – 5, Sargsyan – 5, Kovalenko – 5, Mesropyan – 5, Poghosyan – 5, Bondarenko – 5, Ishtoyan – 5, Margarov – 5, Zanazanyan – 5, Khazaryan – 5 (N. Petrosyan, 75-5).
Scorer – Margarov (40).
Substitutes – 3:0
Scorers – Kournenin – 2, Pavlenko.
“Dinamo” K. – “Torpedo” – 0:0, 5-3 by penalty shots (shootout)
“Dnipr” – “Shakhtar” – 2:1
“Kayrat” – “Spartak” – 1:2
“Karpats” – SKA – 1:0
“Dinamo” Tb. – “Zenith” 1-1, 6-5 by penalty shots (shootout).
“Pakhtakor” – “Dinamo” Mn. – 4:0
‘’CSKA’’ – “Zarya” – 1:1
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