02/06/18
Panjab 0-1 Western Armenia - CONIFA World Football Cup 2018, Group D
Panjab were defeated by Western Armenia in a bad-tempered affair this afternoon in their second match of the CONIFA 2018 World Football Cup at Arbour Park.
Having run out convincing 8-0 winners in their opening game against Kabylia, Panjab knew that a win today would almost certainly put them into the quarter-finals of the competition and coach Reuben Hazell, made only one change from the XI that won so impressively last time out – Omar Riaz coming into the midfield for Rajpal Virk.
On another warm afternoon in Berkshire in front of a raucous crowd, both teams knew the importance of this game with the earlier match in the group finishing goalless between Kabylia and the United Koreans in Japan. There were also old scores to settle from their previous meeting in the quarter-final of the 2016 tournament, which saw Panjab run out 3-2 winners but which also saw some unsavoury scenes at the final whistle.
Hostilities were quickly resumed in the opening minute, when a crude elbow from Western Armenia’s David Hovspyan on Jhai Dillon was only punished by a yellow card. That lit the blue-touch paper with match referee Kristian Michel unable to stamp his authority on proceedings.
Western Armenia’s physicality had Panjab rattled and when striker Vahagn Militosyan seized on a defensive error on 15 minutes, he put his side ahead with an expert finish.
Western Armenia nearly went two up shortly after, when a dangerous in swinging corner from Artur Yedigaryan almost caught out Panjab goalkeeper Yousuf Butt.
There was more agony for Panjab just a few minutes later, when Jaskaran Basi thought he had equalised, only to see his effort superbly turned over by Gevorg Kasparov.
Gurjit Singh and Jhai Dhillon were then booked by Michel, following an altercation with Yedigarayan and there was more controversy on the stroke of half-time, when Hrant Yagan kicked out at Dhillon and escaped any punishment.
Any hope that things would calm down in the second-half were quickly dispelled as the two sides resumed battle. Armenia’s Vicken Valenza Berberian saw his shot cannon back of the woodwork, but unfortunately, the game was constantly broken up by fouls as the officials struggled to keep control.
Panjab struggled all afternoon to come to terms with their opponent’s hard-line tactics and as the game wore on, it looked increasingly unlikely that they would get themselves back into the contest.
On 35 minutes however, they nearly managed to do it when skipper Amarvir Sandhu got round the back of the Western Armenia defence. Unfortunately, no Panjab player could connect with his cross and the ball was cleared.
Four minutes later and Gurjit Singh saw his free-kick well saved by Kasparous as Panjab looked to stage a late fight-back which unfortunately they failed to do.
After the match I grabbed a quick word with Jhai Dhillon, who was the victim of the game’s most controversial incident. He remained diplomatic when he told me that; “In the first minute, he just caught me off the ball, it’s just something that happens in the game.”
When I asked his opinion on the officiating this afternoon, he stated that; “It’s difficult for me to say, I don’t want to be critical but I’m sure they could have managed the game better.”
Panjab now face the United Koreans in Japan in Sunday’s crucial final group game at Arbour Park (kick-off 18:00). Dhillon remained upbeat when he declared that; “We’re all still confident as a team and this result changes nothing. We will go out to win tomorrow.”
With nine yellow cards having been administered this afternoon, the repercussions from this game could run for some time.
Panjab were defeated by Western Armenia in a bad-tempered affair this afternoon in their second match of the CONIFA 2018 World Football Cup at Arbour Park.
Having run out convincing 8-0 winners in their opening game against Kabylia, Panjab knew that a win today would almost certainly put them into the quarter-finals of the competition and coach Reuben Hazell, made only one change from the XI that won so impressively last time out – Omar Riaz coming into the midfield for Rajpal Virk.
On another warm afternoon in Berkshire in front of a raucous crowd, both teams knew the importance of this game with the earlier match in the group finishing goalless between Kabylia and the United Koreans in Japan. There were also old scores to settle from their previous meeting in the quarter-final of the 2016 tournament, which saw Panjab run out 3-2 winners but which also saw some unsavoury scenes at the final whistle.
Hostilities were quickly resumed in the opening minute, when a crude elbow from Western Armenia’s David Hovspyan on Jhai Dillon was only punished by a yellow card. That lit the blue-touch paper with match referee Kristian Michel unable to stamp his authority on proceedings.
Western Armenia’s physicality had Panjab rattled and when striker Vahagn Militosyan seized on a defensive error on 15 minutes, he put his side ahead with an expert finish.
Western Armenia nearly went two up shortly after, when a dangerous in swinging corner from Artur Yedigaryan almost caught out Panjab goalkeeper Yousuf Butt.
There was more agony for Panjab just a few minutes later, when Jaskaran Basi thought he had equalised, only to see his effort superbly turned over by Gevorg Kasparov.
Gurjit Singh and Jhai Dhillon were then booked by Michel, following an altercation with Yedigarayan and there was more controversy on the stroke of half-time, when Hrant Yagan kicked out at Dhillon and escaped any punishment.
Any hope that things would calm down in the second-half were quickly dispelled as the two sides resumed battle. Armenia’s Vicken Valenza Berberian saw his shot cannon back of the woodwork, but unfortunately, the game was constantly broken up by fouls as the officials struggled to keep control.
Panjab struggled all afternoon to come to terms with their opponent’s hard-line tactics and as the game wore on, it looked increasingly unlikely that they would get themselves back into the contest.
On 35 minutes however, they nearly managed to do it when skipper Amarvir Sandhu got round the back of the Western Armenia defence. Unfortunately, no Panjab player could connect with his cross and the ball was cleared.
Four minutes later and Gurjit Singh saw his free-kick well saved by Kasparous as Panjab looked to stage a late fight-back which unfortunately they failed to do.
After the match I grabbed a quick word with Jhai Dhillon, who was the victim of the game’s most controversial incident. He remained diplomatic when he told me that; “In the first minute, he just caught me off the ball, it’s just something that happens in the game.”
When I asked his opinion on the officiating this afternoon, he stated that; “It’s difficult for me to say, I don’t want to be critical but I’m sure they could have managed the game better.”
Panjab now face the United Koreans in Japan in Sunday’s crucial final group game at Arbour Park (kick-off 18:00). Dhillon remained upbeat when he declared that; “We’re all still confident as a team and this result changes nothing. We will go out to win tomorrow.”
With nine yellow cards having been administered this afternoon, the repercussions from this game could run for some time.
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