Why Noah Couldn’t Get Past Sion: Injuries, a Short Bench and the Cost of Mistakes in European Competition

Noah’s UEFA Conference League campaign came to an end after the Armenian club lost to Switzerland’s Sion in the third qualifying round. Noah were beaten 2–1 in the second leg and exited the competition 4–3 on aggregate.

The result against a Swiss side can hardly be described as a major surprise in itself. Armenian clubs have traditionally struggled badly against teams from Switzerland, and this was already their 16th defeat in 18 such matches.

In Noah’s case, however, there is still a feeling of a missed opportunity. The team played very well in the first halves of both matches against Sion and, during certain spells, gave genuine reason to believe they could progress. But at the decisive moments, problems that had been building even before the start of the European campaign came to the surface.

The Conference League Does Not Forgive Mistakes

In European qualifying, the cost of one poor spell can be particularly high. There is almost no time to correct mistakes: one bad match, or even a handful of episodes, can undo all the work that came before it.

Reaching the decisive stages requires more than simply playing good football. A team also needs squad depth, consistency and a certain amount of luck, including in the draw. In that respect, Noah found themselves far from an ideal situation.

Yan Eteki’s Injury

One of the team’s biggest losses was Yan Eteki. During last year’s European campaign, the midfielder was one of Noah’s key players, providing balance in the middle of the pitch.

Finding a proper replacement proved difficult, particularly given the new foreign-player restrictions in the Armenian championship. Takuto Oshima, despite his qualities, is not a classic defensive midfielder in terms of his profile. Eteki’s absence had a serious impact on the team’s overall structure.

Mario González’s Absence

Another significant blow was the injury to Mario González. The striker had started the season well and was in good form, but Noah were left without him at the most important moment.

González was expected to replace the departed Nardin Mulahusejnović in the squad, but the Spaniard suffered an injury before the first match against Sion.

Marko Lazetić joined Noah later and does not yet look like a player who has reached peak condition. As a result, the coaching staff had far fewer options to work with in attack.

Hovhannes Hambardzumyan’s Injury

Hambardzumyan’s absence also reduced Noah’s tactical flexibility. Last season, the team regularly changed its right-back during matches and adjusted its overall approach at the same time.

Hambardzumyan and Boakye are completely different types of players. Having both available allowed the coaching staff to shift the emphasis on the flank depending on the opponent and the situation on the pitch. This time, that option was virtually unavailable.

Muradyan Has Yet to Return to His Previous Level

Sergey Muradyan also suffered a serious injury before the start of the season. The defender is now gradually returning, but objectively remains some way short of the level he showed a year ago.

After an injury of that nature, a player needs time to regain match rhythm and return to his previous physical condition. Expecting his best form immediately would have been difficult. However, Stone Mambo was sent off in the first leg, forcing Muradyan to start the return match.

Jakoliš and Costache Failed to Improve the Team

The form of Antonio Jakoliš and Valentin Costache became another concern. So far, both have looked slower than expected and have not provided the quality Noah need in attacking areas.

This became particularly apparent as matches progressed. When Noah needed to freshen things up and change the game through substitutions, the coaching staff’s options were severely limited. In effect, the team lost one of its main tools for influencing the closing stages of matches.

Too Many Problems Came at the Same Time

Against Sion, Noah showed that they were capable of competing on equal terms with an opponent of this level. The Armenian side were particularly convincing in the first halves of both matches.

European competition, however, demands consistency throughout the full 90 minutes. It was towards the closing stages that injuries, insufficient squad depth and the poor form of certain players began to take their toll.

Individually, none of these problems might have proved decisive. But they all came together at precisely the moment when the cost of every mistake was at its highest.

As a result, Noah’s Conference League campaign ended in the third qualifying round. While defeat to a Swiss club cannot in itself be considered unexpected, the quality of Noah’s football during certain spells provides the main reason for regret: the Armenian champions genuinely had a chance to progress.