Champions League Qualifier: Ferencváros Edge FC Noah 2–1 in Armenia
Hungarian champions Ferencváros TC earned a hard-fought 2–1 away victory against Armenian side FC Noah in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round, putting them in a strong position ahead of the return fixture in Budapest.
The match, played at the Abovyan City Stadium, began with promise for the hosts, who took a surprise lead in the 35th minute. The opener came via an unfortunate own goal by Ferencváros defender Ibrahim Cissé, who deflected a low cross into his own net under pressure.
Despite the setback, Ferencváros responded swiftly and decisively. Just before the halftime whistle, Callum O’Dowda—the club’s recent signing from Cardiff City—calmly slotted home the equalizer in the 45th minute after a slick attacking build-up, leveling the tie at a crucial moment.
The Hungarian side came out firing in the second half and wasted no time in asserting their dominance. In the 49th minute, star striker Barnabás Varga found the back of the net with a clinical finish from close range, giving Ferencváros a 2–1 lead that they would hold onto for the remainder of the match.
However, the visitors’ momentum suffered a late blow when Cissé, already involved in the own goal, was shown a straight red card in the 82nd minute for a reckless challenge. He will now miss the second leg due to suspension.
Despite going a man down, Ferencváros held firm defensively and managed to see out the final minutes without conceding again, earning a valuable away win in continental competition.
With the second leg scheduled for July 30 in Budapest, Ferencváros now carry a narrow aggregate advantage back to home soil. Under the leadership of manager Robbie Keane, the Hungarian giants will be confident of progressing to the third qualifying round as they continue their quest to return to the Champions League group stages.
Final Score:
FC Noah 1–2 Ferencváros TC
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[35′] OG – Ibrahim Cissé (FCN 1–0)
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[45′] Callum O’Dowda (1–1)
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[49′] Barnabás Varga (1–2)
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[82′] Red Card – Ibrahim Cissé (Ferencváros)
