Nations League: Azerbaijani national team lost to Slovakia

The Azerbaijani National Team: A Comedy of Errors in the UEFA Nations League

Well, folks, the curtain has dropped on yet another riveting performance by the Azerbaijani national team in the UEFA Nations League. Yes, I know – the suspense was killing me too! But alas, they find themselves again in a familiar scenario: defeated in the group stage, and you can’t help but wonder if they’ve taken up an unspoken vow of anonymity in international football.

Under the guidance of head coach Fernando Santos, the team marched onto the pitch at the esteemed Republican Stadium named after Tofik Bahramov, a name that somehow sounds more triumphant than the events that unfolded. From the get-go, it was a wild ride! In the 15th minute, Rahil Mamedov decided to take matters into his own hands – literally! He scored an own goal quicker than I could say “What’s going wrong?”. Now, I get it, sometimes you want the spotlight, but scoring for the other team? That’s just bad vibes!

Have no fear, for Toral Bayramov, our very own knight in shining armor, swiftly restored hope with his much-needed equalizer in the 38th minute. For those fleeting moments, the crowd collectively exhaled, believing maybe, just *maybe*, we were back in this. But as they say in football, “hope is the first step on the road to disappointment” – a lesson the Azerbaijani team seemed all too eager to teach!

The second half kicked off, and it was like watching a Shakespearean tragedy unfold before our eyes. Mahir Emreli, perhaps trying to take on the role of a tragic hero, received a second yellow card in the 70th minute! Now, I don’t know about you, but getting sent off is not quite the way to earn your stripes, or in this case, a swift exit from the pitch!

With Mahir off to contemplate his life choices, the Slovakian team took full advantage. They pounced on the opportunity like a cat on a laser dot! Lukas Haraslin put Slovakia back in the lead five minutes later, and just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, David Duris capped things off beautifully in the 87th minute with a third goal, securing Slovakia’s place as the villains of the night.

So, let us recap what the past few matches have looked like for Azerbaijan: losses to Estonia, Slovakia (again!), and Sweden—all a reminder that this team is having a bit of a “the world is against us” moment. To add to the drama, the group standings show Azerbaijan with an impressive total of… zero points! Yes, a big, fat donut! Meanwhile, Sweden and Slovakia are at the top with a cool 7 points each, and Estonia’s not doing much better against the onslaught. Looks like we’re playing Monopoly while the rest of them are in a high-stakes poker game!

In the heart of Baku, as the players trooped off the field, the long, hopeful strides were more like an slow-motion walk of defeat. Fans clapped patiently, hoping for a glimmer of brilliance rather than yet another sob story. What does the future hold for this beleaguered squad? Well, at this rate, they might just become the stuff of legends—though probably not the kind you’re hoping for!

So let’s raise a glass to the Azerbaijani national team. While they may not be racking up the wins, they certainly have us all entertained—after all, laughter is the best medicine. And if all else fails, well, there’s always next time… or the time after that…

Photo: Ekhtiram Jabiev

The Azerbaijani national team was again defeated in the group stage of the UEFA Nations League.

Report informs that the team led by head coach Fernando Santos lost to the Slovak national team.

The match at the Republican Stadium named after Tofik Bahramov ended in victory for the guests with a score of 3:1.

In the 15th minute, Rahil Mamedov scored an own goal, which gave Slovakia the lead. In the 38th minute, Toral Bayramov restored the balance.

In the 70th minute, Mahir Emreli received a second yellow card and was sent off. Lukas Haraslin put Slovakia ahead again five minutes later, and David Duris set up the final score in the 87th minute.

Let us note that earlier the Azerbaijani team lost to Estonia and Slovakia with a score of 1:3, and to Sweden – 0:2.