Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
FC Noah beat Van 2-0 in a Club Friendly on 15 July 2026 with goals from Hélder Ferreira (5') and Mario González (23').
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
Noah needed no time to settle. Portuguese winger Hélder Ferreira, who joined the club in July 2024 and has been a key creative force, struck in the 5th minute to give the hosts the perfect start. The early goal put Van on the back foot before they could establish any rhythm.
Spanish forward Mario González doubled the lead in the 23rd minute, finishing a move that effectively sealed the result before the break. González, a 30-year-old striker who joined Noah from Burgos, showed his poaching instincts with a well-taken finish.
Van could not find a way back into the contest. The second half passed without further goals, with Noah managing the game comfortably. No cards were shown in a clean, competitive friendly.
The turning point
Ferreira’s 5th-minute opener. A pre-season friendly can often drift through the opening exchanges, but Noah’s lightning start forced Van to chase the game from the first whistle. Once González made it 2-0 in the 23rd minute, the contest was effectively over before it had truly developed.
Key performers
Hélder Ferreira — The Portuguese wide man set the tone with his early goal. Ferreira has been a consistent contributor since arriving from Portugal’s lower leagues, and this strike continued his strong pre-season form. He finished the 2025/26 season with 13 goals and 8 assists across all competitions for Noah.
Mario González — The Spanish striker added the second goal, demonstrating the clinical finishing that Noah will need in their upcoming European campaign. González, who wears the number 20 shirt, has established himself as a reliable option in the forward line.
By the numbers — interpreted
Noah’s 2-0 half-time lead reflected their dominance in the opening half-hour, but the goalless second half suggests both sides used the fixture primarily for fitness work. The clean sheet will please Noah’s coaching staff, who have seen their side keep tight defensive shapes in recent friendlies — draws with CFR Cluj (1-1), Mura (1-1), Aluminij (0-0) and Koper (0-0) preceded this win.
The absence of cards on either side underlined the friendly nature of the contest, with no tactical fouls or reckless challenges disrupting the flow.
What it means
Noah continue their pre-season build-up with a third consecutive unbeaten friendly (following draws with CFR Cluj, Mura, Aluminij and Koper). The result maintains momentum ahead of a competitive fixture that carries real weight: a UEFA Conference League first qualifying round tie against Moldovan side Zimbru on 23 July 2026.
For Van, this was a second friendly in as many days after a 0-0 draw with Sardarapat on 14 July. The Charentsavan-based side will look to sharpen their attack before the new Armenian Premier League season.
Verdict
A straightforward pre-season workout for Noah, settled by two early goals. The result itself matters less than the sharpness shown by Ferreira and González, who will be central to Noah’s hopes in European qualification. Van offered little going forward and will need more bite in the final third before the competitive season begins.
Match Events
FC Noah and Van have met 23 times — FC Noah won 13, Van won 3, with 7 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2020. FC Noah leads the head-to-head with 13 victories from 23 meetings. A combined 53 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 2.30 per match (38 for the home side, 15 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 9 matches (39%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 10 games (43%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. FC Noah are currently unbeaten in the last 4 meetings. The highest-scoring encounter finished 5–0 in 2024.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 21 Jul 2026