Armenia, who had rarely threatened in the opening hour, broke the deadlock in the 64th minute after Poland defender Jacek Bak fouled Armenia's Aram Hakobyan on the edge of the penalty area.

Experienced midfielder Hamlet Mkhitaryan took the resulting free-kick and his right-footed shot flew past Poland goalkeeper Artur Boruc into the top-left corner of the net.

Armenia manager Ian Porterfield though had Gevorg Kasparov to thank for the victory after the Pas Tehran goalkeeper denied Poland on a number of occasions.

The visitors had three chances within the space of five minutes to open the scoring in the first half but were unable to find a way past the inspired 26-year-old goalkeeper.

Defender Marcin Wasilewski found striker Marek Saganowski in the 26th minute but his shot from inside the six-yard box was tipped round the post by Kasparov.

A minute later Kasparov was brought into action again after Mkhitaryan fouled Poland midfielder Wojciech Lobodzinski just outside the penalty area.

Midfielder Jacek Krzynowek took the resulting free-kick but his curling effort was pushed over the bar by Kasparov.

Kasparov again denied Poland's attack in the 29th minute, this time saving Lobodzinski 25-yard drive with his feet before blocking Saganowski's follow-up shot from 12 yards.

Poland continued to dominate possession in the second half but found the Armenia defence much more difficult to break down and Kasparov in inspired form.

Kasparov again denied Leo Beenhakker's side late in the game, first making a smart save from midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski's header in the 86th minute then blocking striker Maciej Zurawski's shot from 12 yards in injury time.