7pm 30 September 2012
Armenia, Premier League
Ulisses FC 0 FC Shirak 2 (att 250)
Ulisses are one of two clubs currently using Yerevan's vast Republican Stadium (Pyunik are the other). It's an impressive venue, but with such a small crowd scattered around its 15,000 seats the atmosphere is a little strange.
Perhaps being named after a sponsor doesn't help Ulisses attract fans, although as reigning league champions, and with admission again free, I thought a few more people might have turned up.
Although this match was free, ticket booths near the entrance were selling tickets for Armenia's forthcoming World Cup qualifier against Italy, being played across town at the Hrazdan Stadium.
The first half of this match was the best football I saw while in Armenia, mainly because, unlike much of what I'd seen previously, Shirak actually attacked and tried to score. They did so twice in quick succession before the break.
The second half was hardly worth bothering with. Not a single thing of note happened during the entire 45 minutes, other than a string of substitions and players needing treatment for dubious-looking injuries. Shirak had obviously settled for 2-0, and Ulisses had apparently settled for 0-2.
Eventually the referee blew for time, and after a 20 minute walk I was back at my hotel and sat in the restaurant.
Armenia, Premier League
Ulisses FC 0 FC Shirak 2 (att 250)
Ulisses are one of two clubs currently using Yerevan's vast Republican Stadium (Pyunik are the other). It's an impressive venue, but with such a small crowd scattered around its 15,000 seats the atmosphere is a little strange.
Perhaps being named after a sponsor doesn't help Ulisses attract fans, although as reigning league champions, and with admission again free, I thought a few more people might have turned up.
Although this match was free, ticket booths near the entrance were selling tickets for Armenia's forthcoming World Cup qualifier against Italy, being played across town at the Hrazdan Stadium.
The first half of this match was the best football I saw while in Armenia, mainly because, unlike much of what I'd seen previously, Shirak actually attacked and tried to score. They did so twice in quick succession before the break.
The second half was hardly worth bothering with. Not a single thing of note happened during the entire 45 minutes, other than a string of substitions and players needing treatment for dubious-looking injuries. Shirak had obviously settled for 2-0, and Ulisses had apparently settled for 0-2.
Eventually the referee blew for time, and after a 20 minute walk I was back at my hotel and sat in the restaurant.
Comments
Post a Comment