Gabala lost 0:2 to Baku at home in the 15th tour of the Topaz Premier League. We came on the show after 5 wins on the trot that include 4 league and 1 cup matches. But 2 leading players – captain Rashad Abdullayev and Dodo – missed the event as they were banned earlier. Vurghun Huseynov was back to the staff to be introduced in the second half after his 3-month treatment that started from the early season.
Following the match, it began with the very early lead of Gabala by faster attacks. The painstaker was Assis trying to give no spaces of Dodo. He was well responding to his task on attacking displays. Gabala could have opened the scoring in the 12th minute when the Baku defense looked lost for a moment but Rovshan Amiraslanov, surging forward, was wide of goal. Assis gave many troubles to Baku keeper Nuredinoski. On one occasion, the Gabala kicker clearly set up Mendy from the right, but a header of the latter was off target. With the 38th minute, Assis quickly traveled into the box from the left before his goalbound shot was denied by the visitor keeper. With the evident lead, Gabala were unable to break the deadlock in the goalless first half.
It was the home side again being faster after the restart with Assis under spotlight. His far range shot on 50 minutes was perfectly deflected by Nuredinoski just a minute before the Kalabane header right at the Baku keeper. But in the 53rd minute, Baku said “see this” going one ahead at their first occasion, which was not really an attack as Junior Wilson easily found the Gabala with his long range shot. Our team were surprised by the goal, but not get down. It seemed as a matter of time just before our 57th-minute attack with hope of an equalizer, but Nuredinoski gave another great save to his team denying our Chertoganov. Although too many inroads, we could not score any goals for the further times. And with 7 minutes left, Baku scored their second when Nurlan Novruzov came one on one with our keeper. Now the 5-game winning streak of Gabala has ended.
Bojidar Bandovic: “It was a difficult game really. My team satisfied me with their performance. Baku started bad, but we got power after opening the scoring. I also congratulate Gabala for their good show. We dedicate this victory to the birth day of our club president Hafiz Mammadov”.
Ramiz Mammadov: “My team were well setting up three real goal threats in the first period. But they were unable to take advantage of those chances. There were more occasions in the second half, and we were off goal again. The absence of Dodo and Rashad has well affected to our performance today. But will we keep going and try to produce good display for the future events”.