Pyunik confidently beat Malta’s runner-up Marsaxlokk in the Conference League
- Author: Vahe Hakobyan
- Sportaran
Yerevan’s Pyunik made a successful start in the first qualifying round of the 2026/27 UEFA Conference League. Artak Oseyan’s team defeated Malta’s runner-up Marsaxlokk 3-0 away from home.
Momo Yansane, Artak Dashyan and Mikhail Kovalenko scored for the Armenian side.
Pyunik produced a confident performance and made a serious statement for reaching the next round already after the first leg. The Armenian team learned the lessons from last year’s difficult European away trip to San Marino and this time practically decided the outcome of the tie in the opening match.
Forward Yasonas Pikis and defender Erik Simonyan made their debuts for Artak Oseyan’s team in this match. Pikis came on as a substitute in the second half and provided an assist.
The return leg between Pyunik and Marsaxlokk will take place in Yerevan on July 16. The winner of this tie will face Hungary’s Debrecen in the second qualifying round of the Conference League.
Pyunik lineup:
Henri Avagyan — Artak Dashyan, Mikhail Kovalenko (69, Robert Darbinyan), Sergey Vakulenko, Filipe Almeida, Nikolaos Kainourgios — Karlen Hovhannisyan (69, Tarakhchyan), Hovhannes Harutyunyan (62, Malakyan), Sead Islamović (83, Erik Simonyan), Daniil Kulikov — Momo Yansane (62, Yasonas Pikis).