Shirak II claimed a 2-1 victory over Noah II in the First League on Monday evening, overturning expectations at their home ground. The result leaves the hosts on seven points from six outings, while Noah II remain rooted to twelfth with six points from eight games. By then, the visitors would have been expecting to lift points from the match they had tipped themselves to win.
And here's the thing about this one — the prediction had gone the other way entirely. We had backed Noah II for victory at 43 per cent confidence, but the match refused to follow that script. Shirak II, who had lost three of their last four, suddenly found themselves cutting them open at will when it mattered most.
The hosts came out with more intention than their recent form suggested. They took the lead through a well-worked chance, and Noah II's response was sluggish. To be fair, the visitors had shown glimpses of stability in their draws against Araz Ararat and Andranik, but those quiet performances offered little protection here.
What shifted things was a moment in the second half when Noah II's defence, which had looked organized in the opening exchanges, began to panic. The hosts sensed blood and pressed. Noah II's only consolation came late, but it never felt like the equaliser they wanted. The old head settled them down would have been needed, but there was none of that composure on show.
For Noah II, this adds to a difficult run. Four defeats in eight games leaves them searching for momentum, and that 2-1 loss only deepens the question of how they respond. Shirak II, meanwhile, have now picked up three points from their last two fixtures and are beginning to believe in themselves.
The scoreline tells you everything — a narrow victory, but one built on pressure rather than dominance. Noah II ended a barren spell of five games without a win, but this was not the day for that narrative to take hold. The match was decided in those final fifteen minutes, and Shirak II knew it.
