In a thrilling encounter marked by late drama and resilience, Van snatched a 3-2 victory over Shirak at the Gyumri City Stadium on November 2, 2025. This Premier League clash showcased the fierce fighting spirit of both teams as they looked to break free from recent struggles.
The match began with Shirak, sitting in ninth place with just six points from eleven matches, desperate for a win following a series of disappointing performances. They had not won any of their last five contests, including a heavy 5-0 defeat against FC Urartu just days prior. In stark contrast, Van arrived in seventh place with eleven points, coming off a mixed bag that included a gallant victory against Pyunik Yerevan just two weeks earlier.
The first breakthrough came in the 22nd minute when Shirak's own Akila Jesse found the back of the net, firing up his side and sending home supporters into raptures. With memories of previous encounters against Van, where he also scored, Jesse appeared ready to lead his team to much-needed redemption.
However, the joy was short-lived as Van struck back shortly after halftime. An unidentified player levelled the score in the 57th minute, bringing renewed hope for Van's fans who were eager to see their squad capitalize on this momentum. Just five minutes later, Jesse again stepped up for Shirak, scoring his second goal of the match in the 62nd minute and restoring their lead. The young forward seemed destined to be the hero of this contest until fate intervened.
In true tale-of-woe fashion for Shirak, they could not keep their advantage intact. A quick response from Van saw them take control once more when an unknown player scored again in the 75th minute. By now it was evident that neither defense would hold firm under pressure; both teams were simply trading blows.
As tension mounted and stoppage time loomed overhead, it appeared that neither team would muster an advantage until an inconceivable twist unfolded in injury time. While fans braced themselves for what seemed like a draw, another unknown player from Van sealed the deal with a dramatic last-minute goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time. The stadium erupted as Van claimed all three points and moved into seventh place on the table while leaving Shirak languishing near the bottom.
Reflecting on my pre-match preview predictions might be useful here; I had hoped for an upset based on previous performances but certainly did not foresee such wild swings in momentum or goals at either end. This match stood as evidence of football's unpredictable nature-two teams desperately seeking form and confidence went toe-to-toe until one snatched victory from impending defeat.
Now competing entrenched at opposite ends of the table, both clubs must regroup quickly ahead of their next fixtures; Shirak travels to take on Ararat while Van prepares for Gandzasar next weekend. The stakes remain high as each team continues to navigate this challenging season-victories will be vital if either hopes to rise from these depths before it's too late.
As we close out this gripping encounter filled with highs and lows reminiscent of roller coaster rides seen deep within league play throughout Europe, spectators can expect further fireworks when these clubs meet again-only time will tell who gains final bragging rights among them.