Pyunik Yerevan secured a 2-1 victory against Ararat-Armenia in the Armenian Premier League on Saturday. The result came in the fifth round of the regular season, played on 31 August at the Pyunik stadium. The hosts took the lead before half-time and held on despite pressure from the visitors.
D. Kulikov opened the scoring in the sixteenth minute, putting Pyunik ahead early. G. Tarakhchyan equalised for Ararat-Armenia in the thirty-third, and the game remained balanced until Sandro Lima's goal in the sixty-eighth. The visitors had more attacks — 102 to 77 — but Pyunik were sharper in front of goal.
There were several changes around the hour mark, with five substitutions coming in quick succession at sixty-three minutes. Junior Julio picked up the first yellow card in the fifty-sixth, followed by M. Kovalenko in the sixty-eighth. S. Islamovic and B. Pereira were cautioned later, bringing the yellow card count to four for the match.
The statistics tell a story of efficiency over volume. Both sides shared possession equally at fifty per cent, but Pyunik registered four shots on target from fewer attacks. Ararat-Armenia had eight shots off target and eight corners, yet could not find the net again after Tarakhchyan's effort.
The win moves Pyunik to fifth place with seven points from three games, one win and one draw remaining undone. Ararat-Armenia stay third with ten points from four matches, still unbeaten. The result keeps the visitors' clean-sheet run intact while Pyunik's defensive record takes a hit.
