Banants Yerevan claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over Shirak in the fourth round of the Armenian Premier League on Friday evening. The result leaves the visitors one point ahead in the table, while the hosts remain in seventh place after five matches. It was a game decided by a single moment.
Shirak looked to impose themselves early, but the visitors held their shape. Three yellow cards came together in the fortieth minute — G. Ghumashyan, H. Mnatsakanyan and G. Lulukyan all received bookings. By then the tempo had grown cautious, and neither side could find a clear opening.
The breakthrough arrived in the sixty-seventh minute when K. Ishibashi got over the line. It was his side's only shot on target that mattered, and it was enough. Shirak pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages but found no way through.
Shirak's manager made changes in search of parity, bringing on V. Veremeev in the eightieth minute. Bruno Michel followed shortly after, but the visitors had already parked the bus and held firm. An unnamed player also picked up a yellow card in the eightieth minute, adding to the evening's disciplinary tally.
Banants move up to sixth place with eight points from five games. Their recent run includes a 3-0 win over Sumgait, but they also suffered a 1-2 defeat to Ararat-Armenia. Shirak sit on seven points, with a 1-0 victory over Gandzasar among their results.
One goal decided the match, and that is where the story ends. The statistics do not tell you much more than that. Both sides had their chances, but only one team took theirs.