Noah Reach Champions League Second Qualifying Round for the First Time (VIDEO)
- Author: Vahe Hakobyan
- Sportaran
Armenian champions FC Noah achieved a historic milestone by defeating Montenegro's Budućnost on aggregate and advancing to the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round for the first time in club history.
After winning the first leg 1–0 in Yerevan, Noah drew 2–2 in the return leg in Podgorica, securing a 3–2 aggregate victory.
The visitors started strongly, with Imran Oulad Omar and newcomer Alen Grgić scoring in the first half. Budućnost went down to ten men in the 17th minute after Ivan Bulatović received a red card. It seemed Noah would comfortably finish the match with a win, but the hosts fought back.
In the 68th minute, Igor Ivanović scored a spectacular long-range goal, and in stoppage time, Petar Grbić equalized to make it 2–2. Just a minute earlier, substitute Matheus Aias missed a penalty he had earned himself.
VIDEO: Watch the goals from Budućnost vs Noah.
Despite the dramatic ending, the draw was enough to send Noah through to the next round of the Champions League.
In the second round, Noah will face Hungarian champions Ferencváros, who feature Armenia national team player Edgar Sevikyan. The first leg will take place in Armenia on July 22.