Ararat-Armenia Beat Gandzasar in Seven-Goal Thriller Interrupted for an Hour

Reigning champions Ararat-Armenia began their Armenian Premier League title defence with a hard-fought victory over Gandzasar. The high-scoring encounter ended 4–3.

The match got off to an unfortunate start for Gandzasar, who conceded two rather unusual goals. Play was suspended in the 38th minute following a power outage in Yerevan’s Shengavit district and resumed only an hour later.

Gandzasar improved after the enforced break and managed to put the reigning champions under serious pressure. They even had a chance to equalise late in the match, but Ararat-Armenia held on to secure the victory.

Ahead of the Champions League match against Slovenian side Celje, Ararat-Armenia’s coaching staff made significant changes to the starting line-up. Goalkeeper Arman Nersesyan, defender Luis Felipe, midfielder Michel Ayvazyan and forward Araik Eloyan all started the match after receiving little or no playing time in the club’s European fixtures.

Araik Eloyan, Julion Bueno and Alioune Ndour scored for the winning side, while Gandzasar also put one goal into their own net.

Artyom Avanesyan, Din Titkov and Luiz Adriano found the net for Gandzasar. The goals were Titkov’s and Adriano’s first in the Armenian championship.

Ararat-Armenia will host Celje in the first leg of the Champions League third qualifying round in Yerevan on August 4. The return leg will take place on August 7.