YEREVAN — Armenian champions Ararat-Armenia defeated Ireland’s Sham- rock Rovers 2–0 at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium in the first leg of the second qualifying round of the 2026–27 UEFA Champions League. The first half ended scoreless, but the Armenian side opened the scoring shortly after the break. Sandro Lima found the net in the 51st minute. In the 72nd minute, Armenian national team defender Kamo Hovhannisyan suffered an injury and was carried off the field on a stretcher. He was replaced by Luis Felipe in the 75th minute. Substitute Zinedine Banjaki doubled Ararat-Armenia’s lead in the 80th min- ute, sealing the 2–0 victory. The second leg of the qualifying tie will take place one week later, on July 28, in Ireland.