League Play-Off

Maştağa
Spectators: 39 (Terracing: 30, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Maştağa's Mänsur Xasiyev started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. After 3 played minutes Maştağa got a freekick which was hit by Vilayät Vermäliyev. In the 6th minute of the match Naftalan AŞ got a corner. Maştağa's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Islam Kärimov ran over to the corner to take the kick. After taking down the ball on Naftalan AŞ's corner Islam Kärimov fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Amil Dursunov quite easily take care of the ball. Aslan Malikov recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 8th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 0-1 became the score in the 16th minute when Aslan Malikov elegantly shot the ball into goal just under the crossbar. Mänsur Xasiyev fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 19th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Qurban Daşdämirov having to interfere. Amil Dursunov took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Aslan Malikov, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a defensive mix-up in Naftalan AŞ's zone, Mänsur Xasiyev stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Qurban Daşdämirov came out of the goal and Mänsur Xasiyev tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Aslan Malikov received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 31st minute. Amil Dursunov tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Qurban Daşdämirov made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Näbi Abdulrähmanov in the 33rd minute of play. Disappointed in the 0-2 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Aslan Malikov to make the kick off. After 51 played minutes Maştağa got a freekick which was hit by Älif Abayev. Häbib Äläkbärov's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 52ndth minute, Amil Dursunov skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. Xalid Bändäliyev kicked well hit freekick during the 54th minute of the match. Näbi Abdulrähmanov scored 1-2 in the 55th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Qurban Daşdämirov, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. 62 minutes into the game, Naftalan AŞ's Häbib Äläkbärov nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Amil Dursunov made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-3. 66 minutes into the game, one of Maştağa:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. A collision led to Maştağa getting a freekick after 72 minutes play. Älif Abayev hit a great ball. Aslan Malikov's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Amil Dursunov read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 74th minute of play. Mänsur Xasiyev fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 76th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Qurban Daşdämirov having to interfere. Färid Cäfärli charged in rather forcefully in the 81st minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Färid Cäfärli the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After a rather tough play, Naftalan AŞ's Färid Cäfärli got a free kick in the 81st minute. Vilayät Vermäliyev took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 82nd minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Qurban Daşdämirov. Naftalan AŞ's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. With his leg Amil Dursunov managed to avoid a goal in the 87thth minute, when Naftalan AŞ's Häbib Äläkbärov fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. 88 minutes into the match, Naftalan AŞ's goal looked a bit too open when Mänsur Xasiyev came free, but Qurban Daşdämirov reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a rather tough play, Naftalan AŞ's Firidun Eyvazov got a free kick in the 89th minute. In the 94th minute the ball was on its way in behind Maştağa's goalkeeper Amil Dursunov, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Häbib Äläkbärov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 95th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Vilayät Vermäliyev was probably a little too eager to shoot when he, in the 99th played minute, shot the ball from way out. The shot was hard, but the ball flew wide of the goal. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. Naftalan AŞ walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.