Annoying Misfire of Karabakh

Five minutes was not enough for Agdam Karabakh to open a new page in the history of Azerbaijani football teams - to get in the playoffs of the Champions League.

On August 2, in the return match with the Czech Victoria in Baku Karabakh was not able to keep the winning score.

A week ago, a goalless draw was recorded in the Czech Republic.

Karabakh in the second match needed a victory with any score. And Karabakh coped with this task for an hour.

Karabakh opened the scoring at the 28^th minute, when Muarem Muarem received a pass from Gara Garayev and gracefully threw the ball over the goalkeeper of Victoria.

In the future, even though the ball was longer owned by Victoria, sharp counterattacks were made by Karabakh, which could score a goal, at least, three times.

Then the game once again confirmed the old football truth: "if you do not score a goal, your opponent does this" and "the game continues for 90 minutes."

Thus, at the 85^th minute, the substitute Michal Kremenchik restored the balance with a beautiful header. That was exactly the moment when Karabakh was playing with three central defenders. And by that time the head coach of Karabakh Gurban Gurbanov apparently believed the game was done and replaced the three most active players, including the ubiquitous Almeida.

The game ended in a draw 1: 1. This score pleased Victoria, because thanks to the goal scored in the guest match, the Czech team was the winner in the pair and joined the playoffs of the Champions League.

Karabakh, according to the rules of the competition, enters the playoffs of the less prestigious continental football tournament - the UEFA Europa League.

Recall that another Azerbaijani team Gabala has chances of reaching the playoffs of the Europa League.

On July 28 in the first match of the third qualifying round Gabala played in a draw 1: 1 on a visit to the French Lille. The return match will be held in Baku on August 4. -0-