Stalemate in the Shadows: Noah II and Bentonit Ijevan Split Points in Scoreless Draw Amid Struggles at the Foot of the Table

On an overcast Friday afternoon, two struggling sides—Noah II and Bentonit Ijevan—found neither relief nor resolution as their clash ended in a goalless draw, echoing the uncertainty and frustration that have haunted them through the first third of the Armenian First League campaign. With little more than pride and hope at stake, both teams fought valiantly, searching for a spark that might ignite a late autumn revival. Instead, the final whistle brought only a sense of unfinished business, as opportunities slipped away and both teams remained mired near the bottom of the standings.

A Match Starved for Quality, but Not for Effort

The match, played at an unlisted venue, was never likely to be a spectacle, given the context. Noah II entered the afternoon with the weight of a dismal run pressing on their young shoulders—winless in five and blanked in four of those outings, their solitary highlight a 3-3 shootout at Ararat-Armenia II on September 22. Bentonit Ijevan arrived with only marginally better form, themselves winless in four, battered 4-1 by Shirak II just days earlier and clinging to a solitary win since late September.

Perhaps it was that shared sense of urgency—or simply the mutual fear of defeat—that shaped the game’s narrative. Both teams pressed early, energy outweighing execution, as the opening exchanges featured a flurry of half-chances. Noah II’s front line found space behind Bentonit’s defense twice in the opening quarter hour, but each time saw their efforts blocked by scrambling defenders or smothered by an alert goalkeeper.

Bentonit Ijevan, for their part, looked to the direct play of their wingers to unsettle the hosts. The most dangerous moment of the half came in the 34th minute, when an outswinging corner found Bentonit’s center back rising highest, only to send a thunderous header crashing off the crossbar—a reprieve for Noah II that briefly lifted home spirits before halftime.

Turning Points Denied: Missed Chances and Defensive Resolve

The second half offered more of the same—a tense, cautious affair punctuated by moments of individual endeavor. Noah II’s playmaker tried to seize the initiative, threading a pass through a crowded box in the 56th minute, but Bentonit’s goalkeeper parried bravely at the feet of an onrushing forward.

As the minutes ticked away, the match threatened to boil over. A flashpoint came in the 70th minute when a clumsy challenge by a Noah II midfielder saw tempers flare, earning only a yellow card but upping the match’s intensity. Yet save for a speculative effort from Bentonit’s veteran striker, which curled narrowly wide, neither side found the composure—or finishing touch—required to break the deadlock.

Remarkably, in a match between teams averaging more than two goals conceded per game this season, both defenses held their ground. Noah II, who had registered a meager 10% clean sheet rate prior to kickoff, earned just their second shutout of the year, while Bentonit Ijevan collected only their third clean sheet in ten outings.

Context: Standings and Season Trajectories

The implications for the standings are modest but significant. Noah II remain in 14th place with 6 points from 9 matches—a paltry return featuring just one victory and a worrying goal drought that stretches to more than three matches. Bentonit Ijevan inch up to 7 points from 10 games, still anchored in 12th and with only two wins to their name so far.

Both teams have now played out two draws in their last five, but more tellingly, goals have been in desperately short supply. For Noah II, today was their third straight match without scoring; for Bentonit, it was a rare instance of defensive stability in an autumn filled with disappointment.

A Rivalry Waiting for a Spark

While fixtures between these two have rarely provided fireworks—there is scant recent head-to-head history to suggest otherwise—today’s contest will be remembered more for what could have been than what was. Both squads set out to arrest their slides, and while they succeeded in avoiding defeat, neither could seize the moment to claim all three points.

What Comes Next: Stakes Remain High for Both Sides

For Noah II, the draw ends a two-game losing streak but does little to ease the immediate pressure. Their next outing becomes all the more crucial as they attempt to snap a multi-week scoring drought and claw their way clear of the relegation zone. Bentonit Ijevan, meanwhile, must build on this defensive foundation, looking to rediscover the attacking verve that delivered a 2-0 win over Van II on September 23—their last taste of victory.

As the First League campaign enters its decisive phase, both clubs know the margin for error is shrinking. For Noah II and Bentonit Ijevan, today’s stalemate offered a brief pause in the struggle, but with autumn deepening and the table tightening around them, the fight for survival is only just beginning.