National cup

National Stadium
Spectators: 1028 (Terracing: 772, Seating: 236, VIP seats: 20) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Adil Äsädli started the match with the kick off. The supporters of U21 Azerbaijan booed when U21 Greece was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 4 match minutes in a wonderful position. Markos Apostolopoulos didn't get a good kick on the ball. Markos Bantras could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 7th minute of the match, but Sahil Äbhäzov made a huge save. In the 8th match minute, U21 Greece was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Miltos Prinianakis to maneuver through the defense. Markos Bantras's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Sahil Äbhäzov read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 10th minute of play. Markos Bantras blasted a shot towards the goal in the 12th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Sahil Äbhäzov having to make a save. Sahil Äbhäzov took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Markos Bantras, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Fanis Takounis didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Sabir Dünyamaliyev went, in the 14th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. After some careless play in the U21 Azerbaijan defense, Markos Bantras kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Sahil Äbhäzov. The U21 Azerbaijan fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Sahil Äbhäzov should have stopped the shot. Markos Bantras sent away a hard shot on goal in the 23rd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Sahil Äbhäzov showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Markos Bantras, who was totally free with the ball in the 23rd minute. In the 29th minute Turxan Ağäliyev shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Fanis Takounis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 30 minutes in the game Färid Abişov did a throw-in, and the ball was quickly in game thanks to Sabir Dünyamaliyev. An unexpectedly hard shot by Sabir Dünyamaliyev in the 31st minute of play forced U21 Greece's goalkeeper Fanis Takounis to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. A collision led to U21 Greece getting a freekick after 34 minutes play. Ermis Koutsopoulos hit a great ball. Nikos Sidiropouloss short, quick shot in the 37thth minute got Sahil Äbhäzov to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. After 38 played minutes U21 Azerbaijan got a freekick which was hit by Färid Abişov. 39 minutes into the match, Markos Bantras notched a goal, 2-1, to the right of U21 Azerbaijan's Sahil Äbhäzov. Sahil Äbhäzov was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. In the 42nd minute, Markos Bantras ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Sahil Äbhäzov was frozen by the shot and now it was 3-1. Sahil Äbhäzov stood somewhat misplaced when Nikos Sidiropoulos came free in front of goal and shot 4-1 to the left of him in the 45 minute. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 4-1.

U21 Greece's Thanos Plevritis quite brazenly broke a throw-in by Färid Abişov, made in the 51st minute of the game. The supporters of U21 Greece booed when U21 Azerbaijan was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 53 match minutes in a wonderful position. Mehdixan Kärimov didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 54th minute the ball was on its way in behind U21 Azerbaijan's goalkeeper Sahil Äbhäzov, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. U21 Azerbaijan's Sahil Äbhäzov played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Nikos Sidiropoulos in the 56th minute of play. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Färid Abişov during the 59th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. A collision led to U21 Azerbaijan getting a freekick after 59 minutes play. Färid Abişov hit a great ball. Markos Bantras struck a weak shot in the 62nd minute. Sahil Äbhäzov didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for U21 Greece. In the 67th minute of the match, Adil Äsädli tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Fanis Takounis saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. In the 71st minute, Arjen Robben left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The U21 Greece fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 5-1. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Adil Äsädli in the 74th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Fanis Takounis prevented the ball from getting in the gole. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Arjen Robben in the 77th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Sahil Äbhäzov saved U21 Azerbaijan from getting behind. U21 Greece's Fanis Takounis played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Sabir Dünyamaliyev in the 81st minute of play. After a rather tough play, U21 Greece's Giannis Thomopoulos got a free kick in the 82nd minute. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 86th minute of the game. One of U21 Azerbaijan:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of U21 Greece:s goal. If Abülfäz Yaqubov had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 89th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Sahil Äbhäzov showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Arjen Robben in the 93rd minute of the match. If Arjen Robben had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 95th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Sahil Äbhäzov made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Arjen Robben in the 95th minute of play. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. U21 Greece had won after a very even match.