SPORTSWORLD.AM
In the UEFA Conference League qualifying play-off round, Yerevan's NOA will face Olympia in an away match. David Sualehe appeared at the pre-match press conference with Sandro Perkovic and said, "We are ready to win a game where every player wants to win." The Croatian specialist, in turn, said, "We will play for victory, I hope the outcome of the confrontation will be decided in Abovyan." It is noteworthy that 23-year-old David Sualehe played for Olympia last season.
After a pass from Helder Ferreira on the right flank, Oulad Omar shot high. The Slovenian club has problems in the official zone, as evidenced by several attempts by NOA, in one of which the ball crossed the goal defended by Matevs Filer, but due to an offside situation it was not recorded.
Gonzalo Gregorio has been out for a while due to a cruciate ligament injury, which is a serious loss for the Yerevan team. Marin Jakolish made a competent pass where Helder Ferreira was waiting, but he was unable to finish the attack.
Sandro Perkovic's men started the match with great pressure. If they had shown such football against the Gibraltar representative in Abovyan, it is very possible that they would have matched their strength with Riga today.
David Swalehe played with Matheus Ayas as he advanced down the left wing, but he couldn't find his way into the opponent's penalty area and lost the ball. Jakolish had noticed his teammate as he entered the penalty area, but Omar didn't understand him at that moment.
By the 34th minute of the match, the Armenian champion had more possession of the ball with a ratio of 57/43 and in the 37th minute, Marin Jakolish opened the scoring from a pass from Helder Ferreira. It took four minutes for Oulad Omar and his teammates to double their team's advantage, which was Omar's third in European competition in the current tournament. He had scored twice against Montenegrin "Budučnost" in the Champions League. Sandro Perkovic's men go into the break with a two-goal advantage.
At the start of the second half, Marin Jakolish threatened the opponent's goal, but went with luxury, after the corner kick, the club representing Yerevan failed again. In the 49th minute, Matheus Ajas missed the penalty kick, but at the instruction of the Dutch referee, "NOA" repeated the kick. Several opponent players entered the penalty area before Ajas's kick. Oulad Omar approached the ball, who, unlike the Brazilian player, did not miss, making the score 3:0.
After Olimpia conceded a third goal, Ivan Durdov reduced the deficit in the 56th minute. The Slovenian champion showed more active football in the second half. Mateusz Ajas was unable to play his football today and was injured. The Croatian specialist made two changes: Mateusz Ajas and Marin Jakolis were replaced by Nardin Mulahusejnovic and Virgil Pinson, respectively. After these changes, NOAH restored the three-goal advantage thanks to Oulad Omar.
Sandro Perkovic preferred to give the Dutch footballer, who scored a hat-trick, a chance to rest by bringing out Gor Manvelyan instead.
The club representing the city of Ljubljana allows the Armenian champion/cup holder plenty of opportunities to move freely, just like in the first half.
In the last ten minutes of regular time, Olympia did everything possible and impossible to get another goal back, but the Yerevan team organized a good defense to preserve the score.
The return match will take place a week later, on July 28, at the Vahagn Tumasyan Sports Complex in Abovyan.
It must be said that Gor Manvelyan and his teammates approached this match more responsibly. “NOA” had played six matches so far, of which they had won only one, and besides, a ticket to the League Cup round of the Conference League was on the table. According to SportsWorld.am, the best player of today's match is Oulad Omar.
PHOTO: "NOAH" FC