Henrikh bounces back for Armenia

HENRIKH Mkhitaryan scored one and created another as Armenia hammered Belarus – just a month after apologising for his side’s 6-1 drubbing at the hands of Poland.

The 28-year-old, who is Armenia’s captain and all-time top scorer, has been struggling for form of late for United but impressed in his nation’s 4-1 win against Belarus on Thursday night.

Just minutes after missing a penalty, and the rebound, Mkhitaryan started and finished a flowing team move, coolly slotting the ball through goalkeeper Aleksandr Gutor’s legs, to put his side 2-0 up.

Mkhitaryan later added an assist, when his corner was knocked in by midfielder Rumyan Hovsepyan, before the hour mark as Armenia claimed their first win since March.

Armenia endured a miserable World Cup qualifying campaign and finished second from bottom in Group E – 18 points off group winners Poland.

Robert Lewandowski scored a hat-trick as the Poles put Armenia to the sword with a 6-1 win in Yerevan last month and Mkhitaryan apologised for the defeat after the game.

“Problems are everywhere,” he said after the humiliating defeat.

“We must do everything to ensure that this does not happen again in the match against Kazakhstan. There are no words. It was a shameful defeat. I am the captain of the team, and I undertake all responsibility for defeat from Poland.”