Pyunik Suffers Second Major Defeat in Champions League

FC Pyunik once again suffered a major defeat  in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League against  FC Viktoria Plzeň on Jul. 19. A week ago, the Yerevan football club lost to the Czech team (0-4) on home turf, while yesterday, Pyunik lost to Plzeň in an away game that ended with a score of 5-1.

With the match seemingly headed towards the break goalless, Plzeň scored three goals in quick succession at the end of the first half to put the tie beyond their visitors’ reach. Edgar Malakyan pulled one back for Vardan Minasyan’s side but a second of the night for Daniel Kolář and a stoppage time strike from Václav Pilař completed a memorable night for the competition debutants, UEFA reports.

Marek Bakoš, who scored twice in Yerevan a week ago, opened the scoring for the hosts seven minutes before the break after great build-up play by František Rajtoral. Four minutes later Bakoš grabbed his and Plzeň’s second of the night, slotting past Karen Israelyan after a wonderful run from Marián Čišovský. Kolář then capped a sensational end to the half for the Czech side, latching onto Milan Petržela’s centre to score from close range.

Shortly after the break the visitors responded through Malakyan, but in truth the tie was over. Kolář’s 57th-minute effort and Pilař’s strike in second-half stoppage time sealed an emphatic victory for Pavel Vrba’s side who will face either Rosenborg BK or Iceland’s Breidablik in the third qualifying round with the Norweigan side 5-0 up from the first leg.