Azerbaijan Team Ties with Vice World Champions

Baku / 09.09.19 / Turan: The Azerbaijani national football team pleasantly surprised their fans by playing in the Euro 2020 qualifying match in a draw with the vice world champions, the Croatian team, in Baku on 9 September.
The guests from the starting whistle of the judge, as expected, went on a massive attack and immediately created dangerous moments at the gates of the Azerbaijani team. However, goalkeeper Emil Balayev, who made his debut with the hosts, played excellently, saving the team from seemingly inevitable goals.

At the 10th minute, the judge appointed a very controversial penalty kick to the gates of the Azerbaijani team. The referee decided that Anton Krivotsyuk had played with his hand, although during the repetitions it was not clear where the ball hit - the shoulder or the upper part of the defender"s hand. The penalty kick was so dubious that even the Croatians themselves did not demand it. However, the penalty was awarded and it was accurately kicked by the Croatian leader Luca Modric.

To the honor of the owners, they did not lose heart and continued a desperate struggle with the formidable rival. By the middle of the first half, the match somewhat leveled off, although the pace of the game was somewhat asleep.

In the second half, the Azerbaijani team began to attack more bravely. At the 72nd minute, Tamkin Khalilzadeh who had replaced another footballer, like a slalom player, bypassing three players of the Croatian national team, scored a goal.

Discouraged by such a turn, the guests rushed to attack to snatch the victory. However, despite the massive attacks, they failed to create real scoring chances. At the same time, the Azerbaijani team at least twice had the opportunity to score a second goal. At first, the goalkeeper parried Dmitry Nazarov's kick from an acute angle. In the second case, Tamkin Khalilzadeh struck above the gate.

The final whistle of the referee recorded a draw 1: 1 on the scoreboard.

Thus, the Azerbaijani team although won the first point in the current qualifying round, but could not leave the last fifth place in the group.

Note that all the players of the national team played extremely diligently and desperately, and fought for the ball in virtually every section of the field.

The Croatians lead the group, followed by the national teams of Hungary, Wales and Slovakia. -06D-