Pyunik FC named Nigerian-born midfielder Solomon Udo as their official Player of the Match for their crucial 3-1 victory over FC Van in the Armenian Premier League on Thursday. The Yerevan club announced Udo’s award on their Instagram handle on Sunday after collating fan votes via poll.
Udo played the entire match, surpassing Brazilian winger Vagner Goncalves, Russian centre-back Mikhail Kovalenko, and former Moldovan midfielder Eugeniu Cociuc in the fan vote. According to Pyunik’s statistics, Udo completed 67 touches and maintained an impressive 85% passing accuracy. He also made two crucial interceptions to disrupt FC Van’s attacks.
The 28-year-old, who joined Pyunik in January, has been a rock in midfield for the 15-time Armenian League champions’ push for the title and Champions League qualification. Pyunik maintains a perfect record when Udo sees the final whistle – they haven’t lost a single game where he played the full 90 minutes.
With three crucial games remaining, Pyunik sits in second place with 73 points, just one behind rivals FC Noah. Between facing Alashkert and Shirak, Pyunik will clash with Noah in a top-of-the-table showdown.
These upcoming matches will be a crucial test for Solomon Udo and his teammates as FC Noah will be determined to hold onto their lead and secure their first-ever Armenian League title and a historic Champions League debut.
Udo, who has made 18 appearances for the Armenian national team since his debut against Estonia in October 2020, has not been called up by Ukrainian manager Oleksandr Petrakov since his appointment in January 2023. Petrakov has recorded two victories in 12 matches and will push for a third when Armenia faces Slovenia and Kazakhstan in friendlies in June.
