History made: Ararat-Armenia become first Armenian club to reach Europa League

Ararat-Armenia defeated Romania’s Universitatea Craiova in the second leg of the Europa League play-off round to become the first club in Armenian football history to reach the competition’s league phase. Sandro Lima scored the historic goal in the 92nd minute.

Ararat-Armenia 1–0 Universitatea Craiova

Aggregate: 2–1

The first match in Craiova ended in a 1–1 draw, meaning a place in the Europa League league phase was to be decided in the return leg.

The match was tight and evenly contested. However, the Romanian side threatened the goal more often and looked more likely to score throughout the game. One of Ararat-Armenia’s key performers was goalkeeper Joao Bravim, who made six saves of medium to high difficulty.

The decisive moment came in stoppage time.

Late in the game, Juan Balanta won a penalty. Balanta is the team’s regular penalty taker but handed the ball to Sandro Lima. The Brazilian striker failed to convert the first spot kick, but the referee ordered the penalty to be retaken following an infringement by Universitatea’s players.

Lima was unable to score directly from the spot on his second attempt either, but he was first to the rebound and found the net in the 92nd minute to make it 1–0.

The goal was a historic one for Armenian football. Immediately afterwards, Lima went to celebrate with the supporters.

Ararat-Armenia won the tie 2–1 on aggregate and secured a place in the Europa League league phase.

It is the club’s first appearance in the main stage of a European competition. Ararat-Armenia had previously fallen at the qualifying play-off stage on two occasions. Armenian clubs have already competed in the main stage of the Conference League, but for the first time in history, Armenia will have a representative in the Europa League.

Ararat-Armenia began their European campaign in the Champions League, where they overcame Riga and Shamrock Rovers, before losing to Celje in the third qualifying round and continuing their campaign in the Europa League.

Line-ups

Ararat-Armenia: Joao Bravim — Hugo Oliveira (90, Alvin Tera), Junior Bueno, Bruno Wilson, Alexandros Malis, Edgar Grigoryan — Karen Muradyan (90, Carlier), Benny Dias (70, Carlos França) — Artur Serobyan (79, Balanta), Zidan Banjaki (79, Shaghoyan) — Sandro Lima.

Universitatea Craiova: Popescu — Romanchuk, Stevanovic, Screciu — Mora, Mekvabishvili, Baluta (62, Teles), Branchu — Cicaldau, Al-Hamlawi (72, Nsimba), Baiaram (89, Etim).