On a night where two teams were sitting in totally different situations it really was a must win game for Henrikh Mkhitaryan and his fellow Armenian team-mates against Montenegro. In Group E World Cup Qualifying ahead of kick-off in Friday night’s qualifiers, Montenegro were sitting on top of the group with 7 points tied with Poland but ahead of the Poles on goal difference. Armenia on the other hand had made a very poor start to the qualifying and were sitting in last place with no points. It was an under-statement to say that this was a must-win game if Armenia were entertaining the idea of qualifying for the World Cup – they need to improve massively over the remaining 6 games of qualifying.

Armenia were 2-0 down after 2 goals for Montenegro in 2 minutess as Damir Kojasevic scored on 36 minutes and then 2 minutes later on 38 minutes Stevan Jovetic doubled the Montenegro lead taking control of the game. At this point Armenia only seemed like they could pose a threat from set-pieces as they were struggling to create much from open play.  So the teams finished the half with Montenegro leading 2-0. Needless to say the Armenian manager Artur Petrosyan must have had plenty to say at half-time and whatever he said it certainly worked.

Armenia were a much improved outfit after the break including Mkhitaryan. On 50 minutes Artak G. Grigoryan grabbed the 1st goal for Armenia after a spell of decent play. Then as Armenia became the more dangerous of the 2 sides – a threat on the break and simply looking more likely to score with each possession. Then Armenia capitalised on their superiority as Varazdat Haroyan scored the deserved equaliser on 74 minutes as Armenian fans were truly ecstatic, going crazy in the stands.

In the first half United’s Mkhitaryan was barely visible – heavily marked – and was only mentioned it seemed when he committed a foul and conceded a free-kick or when he lost the ball. One of the good things he did do in the first however was make space for his team-mates as he is always marked and when he gets the ball is often immediately harried by two pressing opponents so he manages to often evade this attention and he can look to use the space created from 2 players defending him possibly by passing to a mate in space or dribbling himself. As well as making space as in the first half, in the second half he became much more of an influence: as he set up Gevorg Ghazaryan for a decent goal effort; narrowly missed scoring with nice attempt on 65 minutes; had another decent effort on 71 minutes from the edge of the box saved; as the game reached its final stages on 89 minutes he took on a left footed shot from outside the box and it threatened for a second but ultimately missed to the left and finally as Mkhitaryan helped his country press for the winner he found himself in position to strike another left footed shot from outside the box but sadly while on target the Montenegrin keeper was able to handle it.

When all hope was lost it seemed, the Armenian belief and relentless attacks paid dividends. With virtually the last kick of the game Armenia’s forward Gevorg Ghazaryan fired a stunning right footed shot from outside the box straight into the bottom left corner of Montenegro’s goal in the 2nd minute of added time, breaking Stevan Jovetic’s men but sending the Armenian team and their fans into raptures.

So Armenia still have to pull off a miracle to qualify for the World Cup in Russia in 2018 but at least they are off the bottom of the group with 3 points on the board. They are certainly capable of pulling off some upsets as they showed against Jovetic and Montenegro so if they can continue to improve and pick-up points there is no telling where they can finish in the group.

As we review the international form of Henrikh Mkhitaryan vs Montenegro there is plenty to be optimistic about as he clearly has the confidence of his international manager and team-mates and as we know class is permanent while form is temporary. As we have already heard from Mkhitaryan it is a dream of his to play for United and it is not something he will give up on easily. Red-Devils fans can only hope that some of the confidence he has gleaned from performing well for his country in a difficult but ultimately inspiring game will help to improve him in the Premier League but Jose needs to give him a decent run of games or at least start by giving him “a game”.