Ararat-Armenia 1:0 Universitatea Craiova: Match Result

Match report

Ararat-Armenia edged past Universitatea Craiova 1:0 in the UEFA Europa League play-offs at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium on Wednesday. The match had been heading for a 1-1 draw before a dramatic penalty sequence in stoppage time swung the result. Sandro Lima converted the decisive spot-kick after two missed attempts, sending the home side through on away goals.

For most of the game, neither side could break the deadlock. Craiova controlled possession at 51 per cent and created more chances, but their goalkeeper managed just one save all evening. Ararat-Armenia's defence stayed compact, and the visitors switched off at a set piece when it mattered most.

And here's the thing about the penalty drama. Lima missed his first attempt at 90+5, then fired wide again at 90+8 before finally finding the bottom corner moments later. Three yellow cards flew in that same minute — Nsimba and Teles for Craiova, Wilson Valdez for the hosts. By then, the tie was effectively decided.

The statistics tell a story of missed opportunities. Craiova registered seven shots on target against just two for Ararat-Armenia, while their expected goals figure sat at 1.44 compared to 0.94. Yet those numbers don't capture how efficiently the home side worked their chances. They created two big chances to the visitors' three, and somehow made the difference count.

For Ararat-Armenia, the result means progression despite a difficult run of form. They had drawn 1-1 with Craiova just days earlier and lost two matches before that. The away goal advantage from the first leg proved crucial, and the late penalty gave them exactly what they needed to advance.

Prepared from match data

Key numbers

Possession, % 49 – 51

Shots on target 2 – 7

Shots off target 2 – 11

Expected goals 0.94 – 1.44

🟨 48' N. Bancu — Yellow card ⇄ 62' T. Baluta — Substitution ⇄ 70' Benny — Substitution ⇄ 72' A. Al Hamlawi — Substitution ⇄ 77' Z. Banjaqui — Substitution ⇄ 77' A. Serobyan — Substitution 🟨 80' B. R. Wilson Valdez — Yellow card ⇄ 89' S. Baiaram — Substitution ⇄ 90+2' K. Muradyan — Substitution ⇄ 90+2' H. Oliveira — Substitution 🟨 90+3' S. Nsimba — Yellow card ✗ 90+5' Sandro Lima — Penalty missed 🟨 90+8' Teles — Yellow card ✗ 90+8' Sandro Lima — Penalty missed ⚽ 90+8' Sandro Lima — Goal

Match events

48' 0:0 Universitatea Craiova Yellow card N. Bancu
62' 0:0 Universitatea Craiova Substitution T. Baluta off: Teles
70' 0:0 Ararat-Armenia Substitution Benny off: Franca Carlos
72' 0:0 Universitatea Craiova Substitution A. Al Hamlawi off: S. Nsimba
77' 0:0 Ararat-Armenia Substitution Z. Banjaqui off: Z. Shaghoyan
77' 0:0 Ararat-Armenia Substitution A. Serobyan off: J. A. Balanta
80' 0:0 Ararat-Armenia Yellow card B. R. Wilson Valdez
89' 0:0 Universitatea Craiova Substitution S. Baiaram off: M. Etim
90+2' 0:0 Ararat-Armenia Substitution K. Muradyan off: M. Carlier
90+2' 0:0 Ararat-Armenia Substitution H. Oliveira off: A. Tera
90+3' 0:0 Universitatea Craiova Yellow card S. Nsimba
90+5' 0:0 Ararat-Armenia Penalty missed Sandro Lima assist: Sandro Lima
90+8' 0:0 Universitatea Craiova Yellow card Teles
90+8' 0:0 Ararat-Armenia Penalty missed Sandro Lima assist: Sandro Lima
90+8' 1:0 Ararat-Armenia Goal Sandro Lima

Statistics

49 Possession, % 51

2 Shots on target 7

2 Shots off target 11

0.94 Expected goals 1.44

2 Big chances 3

115 Attacks 115

3 Corners 7

8 Fouls 13

13 Free kicks 8

3 Offsides 3

3 Yellow cards 3

0 Red cards 0

14 Goal kicks 6

30 Throw-ins 15

All statistics

16 Aerial duels 16

69 Backward passes 82

1 Blocked shots 4

19 Clearances 15

12 Crosses 16

14 Dribbles 11

0.35 Expected assists 0.99

69 Failed passes 61

7 Goalkeeper saves 1

6 Interceptions 9

3 Key passes 19

47 Long passes 48

77 Passes into the final third 81

227 Passes in the opposition half 265

259 Passes in own half 242

0.40 Shot accuracy 0.32

3 Shots inside the box 15

6 Aerial duels won 10

0 Successful crosses 5

9 Successful dribbles 7

16 Successful long passes 20

5 Successful tackles 13

405 Successful passes 430

8 Tackles 16

474 Total passes 491

Line-ups

Ararat-Armenia

Starting XI
#	Player	number
98	João Victor Donna Bravim	98
3	Junior Julio	3
16	Edgar Grigoryan	16
43	Bruno Wilson	43
47	Alexandros Malis	47
2	Hugo da Silva Oliveira	2
19	Karen Muradyan	19
70	Benny	70
11	Zidane Agustini Banjaqui	11
77	Artur Serobyan	77
91	Sandro Lima	91

Substitutes
#	Player	number
1	Arman Nersesyan	1
5	Luís Felipe Hungria Martins	5
14	Bruno Martins Pereira	14
6	Mikael Aivazian	6
7	Zhirayr Shaghoyan	7
8	Juan Balanta	8
17	Maxence Carlier	17
20	Alwyn Luheni Tera	20
95	Carlos Henrique França Freires	95
9	Araik Eloyan	9
25	Alioune Badou Ndour	25
90	Paul Ayongo	90

Show full squad

Universitatea Craiova

Starting XI
#	Player	number
21	Laurenţiu Popescu	21
3	Oleksandr Romanchuk	3
6	Vladimir Screciu	6
24	Nikola Stevanović	24
5	Anzor Mekvabishvili	5
8	Tudor Cristian Băluță	8
11	Nicușor Bancu	11
17	Carlos Mora	17
9	Assad Al-Hamlawi	9
10	Ștefan Baiaram	10
20	Alexandru Cicâldău	20

Substitutes
#	Player	number
1	Alexandru Maxim	1
90	Răzvan Sava	90
31	Ronaldo Romario Webster	31
4	Alexandru Crețu	4
18	Mihnea Rădulescu	18
23	Samuel Teles Pereira Nunes da Silva	23
29	Luca Băsceanu	29
30	D. Matei	30
7	Steven Nsimba	7
12	Monday Etim	12
19	Heriberto Tavares	19

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Match prediction: Ararat-Armenia — Universitatea Craiova

Win: Universitatea Craiova

Confidence 49%

Reasoning

Средняя линия 43 букмекеров: победа Университатя Крайова 1.89, ничья 3.34, победа Арарат-Армения 4.15
Конторы расходятся в оценке: от 1.81 до 2.16 (19%)
Последние 5 матчей Арарат-Армения: 1 побед, 2 ничьих, 2 поражений
Последние 5 матчей Университатя Крайова: 2 побед, 2 ничьих, 1 поражений
Очные встречи за последние годы: сыграно 1, побед Арарат-Армения — 0, ничьих 1, побед Университатя Крайова — 0

Full prediction

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Ararat-Armenia

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Universitatea Craiova

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Ararat-Armenia — Universitatea Craiova, UEFA Europa League

Match report

Key numbers

Match events

Statistics

Line-ups

Ararat-Armenia

Universitatea Craiova

Match prediction: Ararat-Armenia — Universitatea Craiova

Reasoning

Recent form

Ararat-Armenia

Universitatea Craiova