Gevorg Khazaryan challenges Eddie McCallion in Yerevan

After a 0-0 draw at the Brandywell, Derry were aiming to score in Armenia but were hit by a goal in each half.

Arsen Avetisyan got the opener on 28 minutes after his initial effort had been saved by City keeper Pat Jennings.

Derry's Darren Kelly saw a header crash off the Pyunik crossbar in the 61st minute but five minutes later Gevorg Ghazaryan's deflected shot made it 2-0.

The Eircom League side felt they should have had a penalty just before half-time when Ciaran Martyn appeared to be brought down in the area.

City new boy Sammy Morrow had an effort saved by home keeper Gevorg Kasparov while Jennings blocked from Ghazaryan and Aghvan Mkhitaryan fired wide.

Right at the end Kelly almost scored for the Candystripes but his powerful header was blocked on the line by a Pyunik defender.

So no joy for Derry, despite giving their all in a match played in intense heat.

After the match Derry assistant Tony Gorman said "the players couldn't have given more in terms of effort or commitment".

"We created more chances than them and if we had been a wee bit more clinical in the final third of the pitch we could have won the tie.

"The pitch was very poor and the heat was stifling so it is credit to the players that they worked so hard and played at a high tempo."

Now John Robertson's men must focus on domestic football, starting with Sunday's Premier Division match at home to Galway United.