YEREVAN (Interstat) — Noah (Arm) erased a two-goal deficit, surrendered a late lead and then found the decisive strike in stoppage time at the end of extra time to beat Syunik 4-3 on Thursday in a global football match that kept shifting after the interval. The home side trailed for long stretches, leveled twice and finally broke through in the closing moments of the second extra-time period.

Syunik, the visiting side, made the brighter start and built a 2-0 advantage. Godwin Kalu opened the scoring in the 26th minute, and Odinakachi Emmanuel Godswill doubled the lead in the 38th. Noah (Arm) struggled to generate a consistent response for much of the first half and went into the break trailing by two. The home side continued to probe after the restart and finally broke through when David Sualehe pulled one back in the 80th minute. Sualehe struck again in the 100th minute to level the score and force extra time. He finished with two goals while playing the full 120 minutes.

Syunik reclaimed the lead in the 106th minute when Pertsh Poghikyan scored. The visiting side then tried to protect the advantage, but Noah (Arm) pressed for another equalizer and found it deep into stoppage time. Helder Ferreira, who also played 120 minutes and finished with two goals, scored at 120+7 to complete the comeback and secure the 4-3 result. Ferreira’s second goal capped a match in which Noah (Arm) had to answer repeatedly, and it came after Syunik had edged back in front in extra time.

The key attacking performances were led by Sualehe and Ferreira, each of whom logged 120 minutes and two goals for Noah (Arm). Kalu, Emmanuel Godswill and Poghikyan each played 120 minutes and scored once for Syunik. Kalu’s early goal gave Syunik momentum, Emmanuel Godswill’s finish extended the advantage, and Poghikyan’s strike briefly put the visitors back in front. Noah (Arm) ultimately had the stronger finish, with Sualehe’s brace and Ferreira’s two-goal effort providing the difference.

The result left Noah (Arm) at 1-0 in this competition and 2-1-2 across all competitions. Syunik fell to 0-1 in this competition and 2-9-3 overall. Noah (Arm) had entered the match after a draw with Pyunik Yerevan, a 5-1 win at Sardarapat and a draw with Dinamo Batumi in recent play, while Syunik had beaten BKMA after a defeat at Alashkert. Syunik’s recent run also included a draw with Ararat and a loss to Ararat, and the club has another busy stretch of Premier League fixtures ahead. Noah (Arm) and Syunik are scheduled to meet again in league play, with Noah (Arm) listed as the visiting side in that upcoming fixture.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Noah (Arm) 3, Syunik 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Noah (Arm) with a 68.5 percent probability to win. Noah (Arm) had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -2. The total score of 7 went under the over/under line of 3.5.