“Nicușor Bancu picked up a yellow card for a foul just three minutes into the second half, an early warning for Craiova and a signal that the home side would fight for every inch.”
“In extraordinary stoppage-time scenes, Sandro Cesar Cordovil de Lima had a penalty saved, chaos ensued with Samuel Teles receiving a yellow card, and then Lima stepped up a second time and buried the rebound opportunity to make it 1-0 — sending Ararat-Armenia through.”
Pivotal
Ararat-Armenia
Universitatea Craiova
Universitatea Craiova dominated almost every statistical category across ninety minutes — 16 shots to Ararat's three, 78 dangerous attacks to 53, six corners to two — and yet left Yerevan empty-handed. The Romanian side controlled possession and territory for long stretches of the second half, but their finishing was wasteful: five shots on target produced no goals, and their one big chance went unconverted. Ararat, resolute and organised in defence, barely troubled the Craiova goalkeeper all evening, yet earned their passage in the most dramatic fashion imaginable. Deep into stoppage time, a penalty was awarded, Sandro Cesar Cordovil de Lima saw his first attempt saved, the moment descended into confusion — a yellow card for Samuel Teles amid the chaos — before Lima stepped up again and this time found the net. For Craiova, it is a brutal Europa League exit built on a failure to convert dominance into goals; for Ararat, an improbable European adventure continues.
How entertaining was this match?
Penalty saved! Sandro Cesar Cordovil de Lima misses the shot.
Samuel TelesYellow CardYellow card for Samuel Teles Pereira Nunes Silva.
Penalty saved! Sandro Cesar Cordovil de Lima is unable to convert.
Corner awarded.
Steven NsimbaYellow CardYellow card shown to Steven Nsimba.
On comes Alwyn Tera, and off goes Hugo Oliveira.
Maxence Carlier is on, and Karen Muradyan is off.
On Monday, Etim comes on for Stefan Baiaram.
Corner awarded.
Bruno WilsonYellow CardBruno Wilson receives a yellow card.
Corner awarded.
Juan Balanta is on, and Artur Serobyan is off.
Zhirayr Shaghoyan is on, and Zidane Banjaqui is off.
Offside.
Substitution: Steven Nsimba comes on for Assad Al Hamlawi.
Offside.
Carlos Franca is substituted on for Benny.
Samuel Teles Pereira Nunes Silva is substituted off for Cristian Baluta.
Corner awarded.
Offside.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Offside.
Nicusor Bancu receives a yellow card.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
The first half ends with a score of 0-0.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Offside.
Offside.
Kick-off! The referee is Donatas Rumsas.
