Ararat-Armenia have made Armenian football history, becoming the first Armenian club to qualify for the league phase of the UEFA Europa League after eliminating Romanian champions Universitatea Craiova 2-1 on aggregate.
The decisive moment came in dramatic fashion in Yerevan on Thursday. With the second leg still goalless deep into stoppage time, Sandro Lima saw his penalty saved by Laurențiu Popescu in the 90+8th minute but scored moments later from the continuation of the attack to give Ararat-Armenia a 1-0 victory.
It completed a European campaign that began in the first qualifying round of the Champions League on July 7 and took the Armenian champions through eight matches and four different opponents.
First qualifying round: Riga FC
Ararat-Armenia began their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 home victory over Latvian side Riga FC.
Hugo Oliveira opened the scoring in the 63rd minute before Carlos França doubled the advantage in the 86th.
The return leg in Riga turned into a five-goal battle. Iago Siqueira and Ahmed Ankrah put the hosts 2-0 ahead, but Zhirayr Shaghoyan and Sandro Lima responded after the break to restore Ararat-Armenia’s two-goal aggregate advantage. Reginaldo Ramires converted a stoppage-time penalty to give Riga a 3-2 victory on the night, but Ararat-Armenia advanced 4-3 on aggregate.
Ararat-Armenia 2-0 Riga FC
Goals: Hugo Oliveira, Carlos França
Riga FC 3-2 Ararat-Armenia
Goals: Iago Siqueira, Ahmed Ankrah, Reginaldo Ramires | Zhirayr Shaghoyan, Sandro Lima
Aggregate: Ararat-Armenia 4-3 Riga FC
Second qualifying round: Shamrock Rovers
Irish champions Shamrock Rovers were next.
Sandro Lima and Zidane Banjaqui scored as Ararat-Armenia won the first leg 2-0 in Yerevan.
Shamrock threatened a comeback in Dublin, with Matt Healy and Aaron Greene scoring in the first half to level the tie on aggregate. Lima then struck in the second half, giving Ararat-Armenia the crucial goal they needed. Shamrock won the match 2-1, but Ararat-Armenia progressed 3-2 on aggregate.
Ararat-Armenia 2-0 Shamrock Rovers
Goals: Sandro Lima, Zidane Banjaqui
Shamrock Rovers 2-1 Ararat-Armenia
Goals: Matt Healy, Aaron Greene | Sandro Lima
Aggregate: Ararat-Armenia 3-2 Shamrock Rovers
Third qualifying round: Celje
Ararat-Armenia then faced Slovenian champions Celje.
Svit Sešlar converted a penalty to put Celje ahead in the first leg, but Artur Serobyan equalized before Carlos França completed the comeback in the second half, securing a 2-1 victory for the Armenian side.
The return leg in Slovenia remained goalless until the closing stages. Yegor Dukuly scored in the 83rd minute before Benjamin Verbič added a second two minutes later, giving Celje a 2-0 victory and a 3-2 aggregate win.
The defeat ended Ararat-Armenia’s Champions League run but sent them into the UEFA Europa League play-offs.
Ararat-Armenia 2-1 Celje
Goals: Artur Serobyan, Carlos França | Svit Sešlar
Celje 2-0 Ararat-Armenia
Goals: Yegor Dukuly, Benjamin Verbič
Aggregate: Celje 3-2 Ararat-Armenia
Europa League play-off: Universitatea Craiova
One final opponent stood between Ararat-Armenia and history.
In the first leg in Romania, Alexandros Malis headed Ararat-Armenia ahead in the 20th minute before Craiova captain Nicușor Bancu equalized in the 33rd. The match finished 1-1, leaving everything to be decided in Yerevan.
The return leg appeared to be heading toward extra time until the extraordinary finish in the 90+8th minute. Lima’s penalty was saved, but the Brazilian forward scored moments later to make it 1-0 and send Ararat-Armenia through 2-1 on aggregate.
Universitatea Craiova 1-1 Ararat-Armenia
Goals: Nicușor Bancu | Alexandros Malis
Ararat-Armenia 1-0 Universitatea Craiova
Goal: Sandro Lima
Aggregate: Ararat-Armenia 2-1 Universitatea Craiova
After eight European matches, four qualifying ties and a campaign that began in the Champions League nearly two months ago, Ararat-Armenia have secured a historic place in the UEFA Europa League league phase.
For the first time, an Armenian club will compete in the main phase of the Europa League.
