Ararat-Armenia defeats Riga FC 2-0 in Champions League qualifier

Ararat-Armenia secured a 2-0 victory over Riga FC in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League qualifying tie, played at the Abovyan City Stadium in Armenia. The match remained level until the second half, when Riga were reduced to ten men after a red card in the 72nd minute. Brazilian forward Carlos Henrique França scored the opening goal in the 85th minute and added a second shortly after, giving Ararat a two‑goal advantage for the return leg in Latvia.

The win sends Ararat-Armenia into the second qualifying round of the Champions League, while Riga will travel to Latvia needing to overturn the deficit. The loser of the tie will drop into the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round. The victorious side will later face either Malta’s Floriana or Ireland’s Shamrock Rovers in the next round.