Ararat-Armenia Come from Behind to Beat Celje in the Champions League

Ararat-Armenia defeated Slovenian side Celje in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round. The match in Yerevan ended 2-1 in favour of the Armenian champions. Second-half substitute Carlos França scored the winning goal.

The Armenian club produced a strong performance in the opening match of its tie against the Slovenian champions and took an important step towards reaching the next round of Europe’s premier club competition. Manuel Tulipa’s team conceded first but managed to equalise before the break and eventually overcame their opponents in the second half thanks to several effective substitutions.

Celje Open the Scoring from the Penalty Spot

The match got off to a difficult start for the home side. In the 21st minute, the Slovenian team was awarded a penalty, which Svit Sešlar confidently converted. The goal put the visitors ahead and allowed them to take control of the game for a period.

Ararat-Armenia did not abandon their game plan and continued looking for opportunities to attack. The hosts actively exploited the open spaces on the flanks created by Celje’s wing-backs repeatedly pushing forward.

The Armenian side tried to move the ball quickly from the centre to the wide areas before delivering it into the opposition penalty box. This approach gradually began to produce results.

Artur Serobyan Scores a Stunning Free Kick

Ararat-Armenia drew level in the 38th minute. Artur Serobyan stepped up to take a free kick and sent the ball into the Slovenian club’s net with a superb strike.

Serobyan’s spectacular goal enabled the Armenian champions to restore parity before half-time. The teams went into the break with the score tied at 1-1.

The equaliser gave the hosts additional confidence. After the interval, Ararat-Armenia began playing more aggressively and applied pressure around Celje’s penalty area with increasing frequency.

Manuel Tulipa’s Substitutions Secure the Victory

The decisions made by Ararat-Armenia head coach Manuel Tulipa played a key role in the second half. The Portuguese specialist refreshed his attacking line at the right moment by bringing Carlos França onto the pitch.

The substitution paid off. Following a pass from Edgar Grigoryan, França scored the winning goal with a backheel finish, securing a crucial 2-1 victory for the Armenian club.

Manuel Tulipa came out on top in the tactical battle against his Portuguese counterpart. Ararat-Armenia made intelligent use of the open spaces on the flanks of the opposition defence, while the players introduced in the second half strengthened the team and directly influenced the final result.

The Armenian champions held on to their advantage in the closing stages and prevented Celje from finding an equaliser.

When Will the Celje vs Ararat-Armenia Second Leg Take Place?

The second leg of the Champions League third qualifying round will be played in Celje on August 11. Ararat-Armenia will travel to Slovenia with a one-goal advantage.

Before the decisive match, both teams will play domestic league fixtures. Ararat-Armenia will face Urartu on August 7, while Celje will take on Olimpija Ljubljana on August 8.

The winner of the tie will progress to the Champions League play-off round. The Armenian and Slovenian clubs’ potential opponents have also played their first match, with Slovan Bratislava earning a 2-1 away victory over Swedish side Mjällby.

Ararat-Armenia Line-up Against Celje

Ararat-Armenia: João Bravim — Hugo Oliveira (90, Ayongo), Júnior Bueno, Bruno Wilson, Alexandros Malis, Edgar Grigoryan — Maxence Carlier (59, Tera), Karen Muradyan — Artur Serobyan (59, Carlos França), Zidan Banjaki (83, Ayvazyan) — Sandro Lima (90, Alioune Ndour).