Alashkert vs Yelimay Semey

A cagey first half produced no goals but three yellow cards inside stoppage time — S. Tanasijevic for the visitors, and E. Piloyan and K. Nalbandyan for the hosts — as both sides struggled to find rhythm in the Armenian capital.

Yelimay broke the deadlock on the hour mark. I. Sviridov delivered from wide and Arsen Ashirbek finished calmly to put the Kazakh side ahead with their first real chance of the match (60').

Alashkert pushed for an equaliser through a flurry of substitutions — they made five changes in total, including Domi Jaurès Massoumou and R. Hakobyan shortly after half-time. The breakthrough came four minutes from time: K. Nalbandyan, who had been booked in first-half stoppage time, swung in a cross that Terteryan met with a header to level the scores (86').

K. Nalbandyan's role shifted entirely after half-time. The Armenian midfielder, booked for a clumsy tackle in the 45+4th minute, stayed on the pitch and became Alashkert's creative outlet. His cross from the right flank in the 86th minute was the precise delivery that unlocked a Yelimay defence that had looked comfortable since Ashirbek's goal. The assist was his only decisive contribution of the night, but it changed the complexion of the tie.

Davit Terteryan (Alashkert) — Introduced as a substitute in the 50th minute, the Armenian striker scored the equaliser with a well-timed header. His movement in the box created problems Yelimay had not faced before his arrival.

Arsen Ashirbek (Yelimay Semey) — Took his goal clinically in the 60th minute, finishing Sviridov's assist with composure. His hold-up play gave Yelimay a focal point throughout.

K. Nalbandyan (Alashkert) — Booked in first-half stoppage time but recovered to provide the decisive assist for Terteryan's equaliser. A night of extremes.

The match was tight throughout, with the scoreline reflecting the contest. Alashkert finished with five substitutions to Yelimay's four, a sign of the hosts' greater urgency after falling behind. The booking count — three for Alashkert, three for Yelimay — hints at a scrappy, fragmented encounter, especially in the first half where three yellows were shown in stoppage time alone. Both goals came after the hour mark, underlining how little separated the sides in the first hour.

The 1-1 draw leaves the tie finely balanced ahead of the second leg in Kazakhstan. Yelimay Semey will host the return fixture with the away-goal advantage, as their 60th-minute strike means any scoreless draw or a win would send them through. Alashkert, who have not played a competitive domestic fixture since the end of the Armenian Premier League season, will need to score at least once in the second leg to progress.

A fair result on a night where neither side did enough to win outright. Alashkert's late response showed character, but Yelimay's away goal puts them marginally ahead in the tie. The second leg will likely be decided by which side manages the occasion better, rather than by any clear tactical edge.