Armenia’s FC Noah made history in Yerevan on Thursday, defeating Poland’s Legia Warsaw 2–1 in the 5th round of the UEFA Conference League league phase to become the first Armenian club ever to reach the UEFA Conference League playoff stage. The comeback victory at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium lifted Noah to 17th place in the overall standings with 8 points, securing a top-24 finish and guaranteeing Armenia representation in the spring phase of European competition for the first time in club football history.
Legia Warsaw struck early, taking the lead in just the 3rd minute through Mileta Rajovi?, putting the visitors ahead and forcing Noah to respond after a difficult start. The Armenian champions regrouped and controlled much of the second half, gradually shifting momentum in their favor.
Their persistence paid off in the 57th minute when Matheus Aias found the equalizer, restoring balance and energizing the home crowd. The breakthrough came late in the match, as Nardin Mulahusejnovi? scored the decisive goal in the 84th minute to complete the comeback and secure all three points. Armenian national team midfielder Vahan Bichakhchyan featured for Legia Warsaw, entering the match as a substitute late in the second half.
With the victory, Noah has mathematically secured a playoff place in the Conference League. The top 24 teams qualify for the playoff stage, while the top eight advance directly to the Round of 16. With one match remaining, Noah remains one point away from automatic qualification and could still climb higher in the table with a strong finish. Last season, a total of 11 points was sufficient to reach the top eight.
Noah’s final league-phase match will take place on December 18 against Dynamo Kyiv at a neutral venue. The Ukrainian side has already been eliminated from playoff contention, meaning the match carries competitive significance only for the Armenian club. A win would improve Noah’s seeding and could result in a more favorable matchup in the knockout rounds.
The result marks a historic milestone not only for FC Noah but for Armenian football as a whole, as Noah became the first Armenian team to reach the UEFA Conference League playoff stage, guaranteeing Armenia’s presence in the spring phase of UEFA tournaments.
