Ghanaian defender Clinton Dombila played a decisive role in FC Ararat Yerevan’s dramatic 2-1 away victory over FC Van in Round 17 of the Armenian Premier League.
The young Ghanaian right-back, who serves as the second deputy captain of the club, came off the bench in the 82nd minute and quickly made his presence felt in a tense contest.
Just minutes after coming on, Dombila used his pace and attacking instincts to break into the penalty area, where he was brought down by a defender, earning a crucial penalty for Ararat late in the game.
The spot-kick was calmly converted in the 97th minute by Kalifala Doumbia, who sealed his brace and completed Ararat’s comeback after initially equalising in the 85th minute. The home side had earlier taken the lead through Maurinho in the 77th minute, but Dombila’s late intervention proved decisive as Ararat secured their first win of the season.
Despite limited minutes on the pitch, Dombila’s impact once again highlighted his growing importance within the squad. His ability to influence matches from the right flank has continued to earn him praise in Armenia, where he has developed into one of the promising Ghanaian defenders abroad.
The 20-year-old will now be hoping to earn a starting place in Ararat’s next league fixture against Gandzasar as the team looks to build momentum following their breakthrough victory.
With his leadership role at club level and consistent progress in Europe, Dombila’s performances could also attract the attention of the Ghana Football Association, as many believe he deserves an opportunity with one of Ghana’s youth national teams in the near future.
