FIFA World Cup Qualifier: Turkey 2 — Armenia 0
Perhaps one of the most historical moments of recents years in Armenia has been and gone. Amid high security, Turkey beat Armenia 2-0 in a World Cup qualifying match in Yerevan attended by both the Armenian and Turkish presidents. Thankfully, the game passed without incident, although there was significant jeering from the crowd whenever Turkey had the ball. Regardless of the result, however, some seeds were sown to contribute towards improving ties between the two estranged neighbors. The Associated Press reports on the match.
Tuncay Sanli and Semih Senturk scored second-half goals Saturday to give Turkey a 2-0 win at Armenia in World Cup qualifying.
Tuncay gave the visitors the lead in the 61st minute, scoring from close range. Senturk made it 2-0 in the 79th, capitalizing on a defender’s mistake in the box.
Mehmet Aurelio had an early chance for Turkey but his powerful shot from 14 meters (yards) four minutes into the game was blocked by goalkeeper Roman Berezovsky.
Armenia replied with a chance in the 8th when Volkan Demirel saved Gamlet Mkhitarian’s drive from 25 meters.
Neither side dominated the game before halftime, but Turkey looked more organized.
The visitors came close midway through the first half when Emre Delozoglu shaved the crossbar from the edge of the box in the 27th minute. Three minutes later, Mevlut Erdins broke down the left flank only to hit the outer side of the net.
Euro 2008 semifinalist Turkey dominated after the interval.
Arda Turan headed down a cross from the left to set up a goal for Tuncay. Senturk stole the ball from Alexander Tatevosian in the box to extend the lead and was close to making it 3-0 in the 81st but failed to beat Berezovsky one-on-one.
The match was being played against the backdrop of decades of animosity rooted in the WWI-era atrocities that began in 1915. The two neighbors have no diplomatic ties. Turkey President Abdullah Gul attended the match, becoming the first Turkish leader to visit Armenia since the ex-Soviet nation declared independence in 1991.
Photos: Armenia-Turkey World Cup Qualifier, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2008
The political background to the match did not escape the attention of most observers and, despite small-scale demonstrations by the Armenian Revolution Federation — Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D), it largely met expectations. With a historic visit from Turkish President Abdullah Gul to Armenia, an hour long meeting with his Armenian counterpart might yet result in some improvement in relations between the two countries.
The Associated Press also reports that the Armenian president has been invited to Turkey to attend the return match on 14 October next year.
The presidents of Armenia and Turkey pledged Saturday to overcome decades of enmity between their two nations during the first visit to Yerevan by a Turkish head of state.
Abdullah Gul held talks with Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisian after which the two agreed there was now the “political will” to improve relations frozen for decades by lingering bitterness over 1915-1917 massacres.
[…]
But in a sign of the hard road ahead, Gul’s arrival at Yerevan’s Hrazdan stadium to watch a World Cup football qualifier between the two nations was greeted by loud boos and hisses by Armenian fans.
Amid tight security, Gul took his seat behind a special bullet-proof area and had to listen to the chorus of boos that accompanied every positive move by the Turkish team. The far stronger Turkish side ended up winning the match 2-0.
“I hope that this visit will create the possibility to improve bilateral relations,” Gul had said earlier in the Armenian capital.
Sarkisian declared there was a “political will to decide the questions between our countries, so that these problems are not passed on to the next generation.”
[…]
Turkey’s footballers were supported by only about 200 forlorn followers in a seating area that could have held 10 times more and was ringed by Armenian police.
Both sets of fans however departed peacefully while the Turkish president boarded a plane to return home.
Some were prepared to embrace the conciliatory message the Turkish and Armenian leaders were trying to put across.
“I’m not interested in football at all. In fact, I hate it because of the nationalism that comes with it,” said Ahmet Turkana, a Turkish activist from a pro-democracy group called Young Civilians over for the game.
“But today it’s different. Football is here to unite, not to divide.”
Sevak Sahakian, a hotel worker in Yerevan said: “Everyone knows about it and people are happy because they hope better ties with Turkey will improve daily life. But people aren’t enthusiastic because they don’t trust the Turks.”
Photos: Armenia-Turkey World Cup Qualifier, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2008
Indeed, security was tight in Yerevan, and especially at the stadium where hundreds of police lined the roads leading to the venue with as many inside. Nevertheless, while the Armenian team did perform admirably in the first half, many local fans were disappointed in the second when Turkey scored two goals. The stadium was almost full to capacity despite initial concerns that this would not be the case. The main area where few people were sitting was that reserved for Turkish fans. Unzipped comments on the match.
I think Turkey’s win was deserved. Well, they were not in their best form, for sure, to say the least, but technically were superior without any doubts. The main problem for our national team was in their weak physical preparedness for the game, they were out of shape, or whatever (no news, eh?), and yes, they just cannot run!!!
Anyway, even though we all knew that chances to win were slim for Armenia, we were expecting better football from our team. They failed to deliver expectations of thousands of fans who started leaving the stadium 10 mins before the game ended, when it was already 0:2. […]
The good thing is that despite worries of possible nationalist outburst or ugly scenes, nothing of that sort happened. Security was pretty tight, at least in terms of numbers one could spot. Even plastic bottles were not allowed inside the stadium. Things went well, overall, except perhaps booing when the national anthem of Turkey played on. But it was kind of expected, regrettable though, and I saw quite a few people around who were against it and trying to calm people down, urging them to behave in a civilised manner. And towards the end, many Armenians were cheering winners, Turkish team, as it should be.
Although not attending the match, Talk Turkey also comments on the game.
[…] Abdullah Gul invited the Armenian President to watch the rematch in Turkey. Wouldn’t it be great if the Turkish people, including its Armenian citizens, all show up in support of Armenia, wearing ‘We Are All Armenians’ shirts, as they did immediately following Hrant Dink’s murder.
Time to rise to the occasion. What do you think?
The sports diplomacy, as was the earthquake diplomacy between Greece and Turkey recently, is a great excuse for the parties to start the dialogue and improve relations, and put an end to the stalemate of ridiculousness once and for all.
Photos: Armenia-Turkey World Cup Qualifier, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2008
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