After beating Malta in the first match, Armenia got the better of favourites Belarus yesterday, to register their second win of the tournament and go on top of the standings.

The Armenians, well organised and quick on the ball, shrugged off an early setback for a remarkable comeback that saw them turn the tables, thanks to an improved second half performance.

As against Malta, substitute Ara Hakobyan proved his side’s match winner.

Belarus forged ahead after five minutes play when Viachaslav Hleb, younger brother of the more famous Arsenal player, capitalised on the Armenia keeper’s gaffe, as he dropped a high ball inside the box, to knock it over the line.

Past the quarter hour Belarus also hit the post with a Vasiliuk shot on a Bulyga cross but then conceded Armenia’s equaliser midway through the half. Following a Mkrtchyan corner kick from the right, Ararat Arakelyan headed in from close range level matters.

Although play remained mostly balanced, Belarus looked more dangerous going forward and twice went close before halftime.

On a fast break, Romaschenko went past two opponents but his final shot was blocked into a corner. On the half hour Blizniuk’s headed effort on a Hleb cross, was held out by the goalkeeper.

Belarus effected two substitutions after the restart but Armenia made some considerable improvement, showing a more direct approach in the second period. Melkonyan shot off target after a good move and a teasing Hakobyan cross from the right.

Armenia denied their opponents any comfort on the ball and even after their industrious midfielder Voskanya was substituted, they still looked slightly faster on the ball than their opponents.

On 78 minutes Hakobyan’s powerful central shot was turned over the bar by giant keeper Liantsevich, who played instead of Veremko. From the resultant corner, Ara Hakobyan advanced inside the area from the right and shot low past the surprised keeper as the ball might have taken a slight deflection off a Belarus defender who stood in the way.

Two minutes from time, Armenia also had their player Tadeosyan sent off by referee Zammut for a second caution. But there was little time left for Belarus to exploit their numerical superiority although they caused some anxious moments to the Armenia defence in the dying minutes.

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Belarus: A. Liantsevich, A. Kulchy, R. Filipenko, S. Omelyanchuk, P. Plaskonny (A.Pytsila), V. Bulyga, M. Romaschenko, H. Blizniuk (M. Asipovich), R. Vasiliuk (A. Paulau), K. Pavluchek, V. Hleb

Armenia: M. Azizyan, K. Dokoyan, R. Hrzumanyan, A. Tadeosyan, A. Mkrtchyan (G. Ghazaryan), A. Arakelyan, A. Voskanya (K. Aleksanyan), L. Packaynen (N. Sahakyan), H. Mkhitaryan (A. Hakobyan), K. Mkrtchyan, S. Melkonyan (A. Edigaryan)

Referee: A. Zammit asst.refs: A. Camilleri, C. Micallef 4th official: J. Attard

Scorers: V. Hleb, A. Arakelyan, A. Hakobyan