Key Takeaways:
- FC Noah recorded their maiden win in a European knockout fixture by defeating AZ 1-0 at the Abovyan City Stadium on Thursday
- Hovhannes Hambardzumyan’s second-half goal gave Noah a narrow advantage ahead of the return leg in Alkmaar next week
- AZ will be without suspended centre-back Wouter Goes for the second leg after his yellow card in the 68th minute
Match Overview
Armenian powerhouse FC Noah achieved a landmark moment by clinching their first-ever European knockout triumph, taking a 1-0 victory over the Eredivisie’s AZ at the Abovyan City Stadium. This encounter in Abovyan marked Noah’s return to competitive action following their 2-0 defeat to Dynamo Kyiv on 12th December, with five friendly matches – just one win, against Lech Poznan – filling the gap after 24th January.
Despite the lengthy competitive hiatus, Noah dominated proceedings early as their Dutch visitors struggled to generate attacking spark and urgency. The home side carved out the majority of significant opportunities in the first half, with Nardin Mulahusejnović particularly close to breaking the deadlock on multiple occasions, though they could not capitalise before the interval.
From starting in the first qualifying round of the #UCL all the way back in July 2025 to beating AZ Alkmaar in the #UECL playoff round 💪
Bravo, FC Noah 👏 pic.twitter.com/jrB9rhG9Ld
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 19, 2026
Decisive Moment and Second Half Developments
After half-time, the tempo of the contest dropped, with few meaningful chances for either side. It was therefore all the more impressive when captain Hovhannes Hambardzumyan broke the deadlock: collecting a pass from Helder Ferreira, the experienced Armenian curled a superb effort beyond Jeroen Zoet into the top left-hand corner.
AZ nearly presented Noah with a second goal following a misplaced pass by Zoet to Penetra, but the hosts failed to exploit the defensive lapse as Matheus Aias lost his footing at a critical moment.
Late Drama and Key Incidents
In the closing moments, AZ almost found an equaliser when Troy Parrott struck the post with an inventive lob; the rebound fell to Mexx Meerdink, whose attempt also failed to find the target. The Dutch side were afforded five minutes of additional time but could not break through a resolute Noah defence.
FC Noah pressed for a cushion in added time, with Zoet making another important save to keep the gap at a single goal. Ultimately, Aleksey Ploshchadnyi produced a crucial stop to deny Kees Smit in what proved AZ’s last decent chance, securing the slender advantage for the Armenian hosts.
| Event | FC Noah | AZ |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 1 | 0 |
| Goal Scorer | Hovhannes Hambardzumyan 53′ | – |
| Date | 19.02.2026 (Abovyan City Stadium) | |
Outlook for Second Leg
AZ’s underwhelming performance in Armenia leaves them trailing by a single goal prior to next week’s decisive return fixture in Alkmaar. They will face FC Noah without Wouter Goes, who received a yellow card in the 68th minute, resulting in his suspension. Noah, meanwhile, will head to the Netherlands protecting a precious 1-0 lead.
