Azerbaijan Premier League
Date: Sunday, September 16, 2018
Kick-off: 7:00 pm. AZT
Venue: Alinja Arena, Baku
Crowd: 1,200
Referee: Rauf Jabbarov
Assistant referees: Elshan Ajalov, Elshad Abdullayev
Fourth official: Rəvan Həmzəzadə
AFFA delegate: Seymur Salimli
Referee observer: Murad Mammadov
Bookings: Maqsad Isayev, 45+2 (unsporting behavior), 75 (unsporting behavior); Karim Diniyev, 70 (unsporting behavior); Sasha Stamenkovich, 90+4 (delaying restart) // James Adeniyi, 28 (unsporting behavior); Rauf Aliyev, 37 (unsporting behavior)
Red card: Magsad Isayev, 75 
Goal:  Marko Devich, 23
Stoppage time: 1st Period: 2 m. / 2nd Period: 6 m.

Gabala lost to Sabah by 1:0 in the 4th tour of the Azerbaijan Premier League in Baku. Sanan Gurbanov’s red-black team were quicker in the early minutes. Their first attack was finished by Elvin Jamalov’s shot denied. A great cross from Tamkin Khalilzadeh found Rauf Aliyev with a follow-up header deflected by the Sabah keeper.

The opponent side set up some quick counter attacks led to opening the scoring by the top scorer of the championship Marko Devic. The goal prompted Gabala to step up their attacks and went too close to leveling. But Urfan Abbasov’s shot tipped wide before Lalavele Atakora in the box and Bahlul Mustafazadeh failed on their efforts.

Gurbanov introduced Javid Huseynov. Gabala’s lead was evident in the second period. Rauf Aliyev’s two efforts in the area were off the target. Khalilzadeh set up some teammates but they were denied. Urfan Abbasov and Sabien Lilay aso were close to scoring but their efforts also failed. Gabala pushed harder to leveling after Sabah went down to ten. But Asif Mammadov was denied by an opponent defender  as Urfan’s shot tipped wide.

Sabah Line-up:

30. Sasa Stamenkovic
13. Filip İvanovic
5. Karim Diniyev 
21. Novruz Mammadov
19. Magsad Isayev
33. Eltun Turabov
15. Erik Ramos
7. Vitaliy Kvasuk
(6. Vadim Abdullayev, 57)
8. Elsan Abdullayev
(25. Vanderson Silva, 84)
10. Javid Imamverdiyev (C)
(11. Elgun Nabiyev, 75)
9. Marko Devic 

BENCH:

1. Tarlan Ahmadli
88. Elchin Asadov
14. Tural Gurbatov
3. Elvin Badalov
2. Ulvi Ibazadeh
27. Bakhtiyar Soltanov

COACH: Elshad Ahmadov

Gabala Line-up:

22. Dmytro Bezotosniy
3. Voislav Stankovich
4. Elvin Jamalov
(11. Asif Mammadov, 70)
10. Rauf Aliyev
17. James Adeniyi
18. Ilgar Gurbanov
21. Lalavele Atakora
(14. Javid Huseynov, 46)
27. Bahlul Mustafazadeh
(7. Roman Huseynov, 90)
33. Tamkin Khalilzadeh
34. Urfan Abbasov (C)
88. Sabien Lilay
 
BENCH:

23. Agil Mammadov
35. Murad Popov
5. Rasim Ramaldanov
8. Gismat Aliyev
26. Faig Hajıyev
32. Amin Seydiyev
79. Ali Sadıkhov
99. Abbas Aghazadeh

COACH: Sanan Gurbanov