SPORTSWORLD.AM
In the central match of the 25th round of the Fastex Premier League, Ararat-Armenia hosted the reigning champion, Noah, at home.
The teams approached this game with a positive attitude, both achieved an advantage over their opponents in the previous round: "Noah" defeated "Gandzasar", "Ararat-Armenia" defeated "Pyunik".
At the start of the match, “Noah” had a scoring opportunity, which Helder Ferreira was unable to finish, but in the 13th minute of the match, as a result of the three-way cooperation of Takuto Oshima, Hovhannes Hambardzumyan and Nardin Mulahusejnovich, “Noah” opened the score of the match (1:0). We can say that “Ararat-Armenia” is unable to organize a good defense in this match, in the 18th minute of the match, Helder Ferreira scored from the second attempt, doubling his team’s advantage (2:0).
After gaining a two-goal advantage, “Noah” slowed down the pace of the game a little, “Ararat-Armenia” made its first substitution in the 39th minute. Junior Bueno was replaced on the field by team captain Armen Hambardzumyan. The change was aimed at switching to a 4-3-3 formation. It should be added that the nominal home team had started the match with a 3-4-3 formation.
Assessing the first half, “Noah” had a significant advantage. The nominal guests had possession of the ball in the first half with a percentage of 58/42%, made five shots on goal against two, 44 attacks of which 19 were dangerous, “Ararat-Armenia” organized 27 attacks of which 13 were dangerous. These statistical data, according to sportsworld.am, may be due to the absence of head coach Manuel Tulipa and his assistant Gevorg Ghazaryan from the technical zone in such an important match, they were watching their team’s performance from the stands. “Noah” dictated its will with the ball and organized a competent defense without it. “Ararat-Armenia” had one real moment in the first half when Artur Serobyan shot wide from the penalty spot.
At the start of the second half, “Noah” again pressured the opponent, especially depriving Aliun Nduri, Artur Serobyan and team captain Armen Hambardzumyan. “Ararat-Armenia” resorted to a risky rearrangement in the second half, as a result of which the home team, with the cooperation of Kamo Hovhannisyan and Ayongo, threatened the “Noah” goal, but goalkeeper Artur Koneglyan took possession of the ball. “Ararat-Armenia” sent the ball to Zidan Banjak from a corner kick into the penalty area, but his teammates were unable to send it beyond the goal line. "Noah" showed calm football almost at the end of the second half and in general during the second 45 minutes, Sandro Perkovic's boys defended more, not allowing the opponent to make free moves in the approaches to their own penalty area. At the same time, Matheus Ajas, who came on as a substitute the day before, scored twice, making the score 4:0, securing his team's victory in the 85th and 90+3 minutes respectively.
In the next round, Ararat-Armenia will face CSKA, Noah will host Yerevan's Ararat at home, and Hovhannes Hambardzumyan and his teammates will also face Pyunik in a match postponed from the 13th round of the Fastex Premier League. After this victory, Noah moves up to second place in the standings with 49 points, while Ararat-Armenia continues to lead the standings with 54 points. Everything will be decided during the next two rounds.
Today also saw the Ararat-Urartu match, where Robert Arzumanyan's men won the away game 1:0. The only and winning goal of the match was scored by Bariton Ayvazyan. Urartu shares third/fourth place with 48 points, while Ararat has 12 points and shares ninth/tenth place with Gyumri's Shirak.