Ararat-Armenia eliminate Craiova after a dramatic late penalty

Ararat-Armenia defeated Universitatea Craiova 1-0 and advanced 2-1 on aggregate. Sandro Lima scored from the rebound after his added-time penalty was saved.

The match remained level for more than 90 minutes

Craiova entered the second leg needing a goal after losing at home. The Romanian side had periods of possession, but Ararat-Armenia kept enough players behind the ball and protected the centre of the penalty area. The hosts also struggled to turn their breaks into clear shots. Both goalkeepers dealt with crosses, while the defenders blocked several attempts before they reached the target. The decisive incident did not arrive until added time. Craiova’s need for a goal shaped the match, but Ararat-Armenia did not simply retreat into its penalty area. The home side tried to move forward when possession changed and made the visitors turn toward their own goal. Those breaks rarely produced a clean final shot, yet they prevented Craiova from keeping every player around the hosts’ box.

Popescu initially gave Craiova hope by saving Lima’s spot kick. The save did not end the incident because the goalkeeper could not move the rebound away from the taker. Lima reacted first and finished the loose ball. His response after the missed penalty was as important as the original strike, since hesitation would have allowed a defender to clear. Lima’s goal is recorded later than the original foul because the incident required the penalty, save and rebound before play was complete. The 90+8 time belongs to the finish, while the foul had occurred earlier in added time. Keeping that sequence intact avoids making the saved kick and the winning shot look like two unrelated attacks.

A foul on Balanta led to the winning goal

Juan Balanta entered for Ararat-Armenia in the 77th minute. In the second minute of added time, Craiova defender Assad Al Hamlawi Mora fouled him inside the area. The referee awarded a penalty. Sandro Lima took the kick, but Laurentiu Popescu made the save. The ball returned to Lima, who finished the rebound in the 98th minute. Craiova had no time to produce another attack. The central defenders dealt with repeated crosses and protected the space in front of goal.

Craiova held periods of possession without finding the touch that would level the tie. As the minutes passed, the visitors had to take greater risks. Ararat-Armenia remained one action away from settling the contest, even though the scoreboard stayed unchanged through normal time.

The goal in the 98th minute left no meaningful time for a new Craiova attack. Ararat-Armenia had protected its lead across almost the entire second leg and then added the only goal at the end. The win was based on defensive concentration and one late transition, not on a long period of attacking dominance. Ararat-Armenia’s two narrow victories also show consistency across the tie. The team did not need to overturn a deficit at home and could protect the advantage created away. Craiova pushed for the equalising goal but left more space as the finish approached. Balanta used that late space to reach the penalty area and draw the decisive foul.

Craiova move into the Conference League

The result ended Craiova’s Europa League qualifying run. The Romanian club will continue its European season in the Conference League. Ararat-Armenia advanced after winning both legs by a single goal. The Armenian side’s patience and the late contribution from Balanta created the chance that decided the tie.

Balanta’s introduction in the 77th minute gave the hosts a fresh runner against defenders who had already played most of the match. His movement created the contact that led to the penalty. The foul was important because it came after 90 minutes of careful defensive work. A late substitute had found the one route that Craiova failed to close. Craiova’s European season continues in a different competition. Dropping into the Conference League gives the Romanian club another route to autumn matches, but the Europa League opportunity ended in Armenia. Ararat-Armenia moved forward after winning each leg narrowly and handling the pressure of a return match in which one away goal could have changed the tie.