“Qarabag.” With losses, but on class
“Qarabag” took the field not in its optimal lineup, but left all of its personnel problems outside the field.
In the first away confrontation with the Dutch side Twente, the Azerbaijani club showed character and composure and managed to achieve a most important victory, taking another step forward toward the European season. Even before the start of the match it was clear that changes in the construction of the game should be expected. Zoubir left, Safo, Cephas, Jafarguliyev and Bicalho were injured, and Makretskis was suspended. As a result, up front from the start of the game we saw Musa Qurbanli. On the left, in the position of the departed Zoubir, Jaly Muaddib appeared, who had earlier been used in attack on the right flank. Aleksei Kashchuk this time was on the right and not the tip of the spear. Kady took up the playmaker position, and alongside Janković in the holding zone the Portuguese Samuel Lobato appeared. In essence, this is not even his true position on the field, but in the end he looked quite good.
On the left, instead of Jafarguliyev, was Langa, while the rest of the defensive line was unchanged: Badavi Huseynov, Bence Varkonyi, Mateus Silva. In goal we again saw Zlomislic, who now creates a certain competition for Kochalski. The problems were connected with possible substitutions, since the Aghdam side’s bench was short. Of the seven players, two were goalkeepers (Shahrudin Magomedaliyev and Mateusz Kochalski), two were very young players (Ali Bashirov and Hikmet Jabrayilzade), and Bahlul Mustafazade has only just recovered from a serious injury and is still regaining his former form. The greatest probability of coming onto the field here was with Joni Montiel and Dani Bolt. By the way, the latter has not yet played in European competitions this season, barely making it into the squad for a game.
The opponent began playing with a 4-1-4-1 system with Weghorst at the tip of the attack. True, the first half was rather exploratory and was not rich in a large number of dangerous moments. But the second one… A cold shower came in the very first minute, when Jaly Muaddib put Kady into a shooting position and he hit the post. Another seven minutes passed and the attack was again started by Muaddib, after whose pass Musa Qurbanli rolled the ball to the onrushing Kady, who without hindrance sent the projectile into Unnerstall’s net.
After that it became clear that the hosts had more resources and that it was now necessary to hold on to the winning score, relying on counterattacking actions. The latter did not particularly work out for Gurban Gurbanov’s charges, but the former they carried out splendidly. The Aghdam side made only one substitution, replacing Musa Qurbanli with Dani Bolt, who was now more useful in defense than in attack. It was he who kicked the ball out for a corner in the very last second of the match, eliminating yet another Twente attack. 1:0, and the Aghdam side, which had earlier faced criticism regarding their play this season, proved that even after the darkest night the dawn comes.
The victory in the first match brought “Qarabag” closer to another European autumn; however, to achieve the ultimate goal it is necessary to play a good return match in the capital of Azerbaijan. Yes, it will not be easy. But this is the European level. There are practically no easy matches at the play-off stage of qualification, even if it is the UEFA Conference League.
GURBAN GURBANOV
HEAD COACH OF FC “QARABAG”
We won, but this is only the first half of our confrontation. The second will be in Baku, where we will have to play more attentively and with more discipline in order to prevail over the two matches. I am sure the return game in Baku will be just as interesting, and we will be able to delight our fans.
The personnel losses could have become a serious obstacle, but “Qarabag” managed to turn the difficulties into additional motivation. The victory over Twente became yet another confirmation that the “horsemen” are already too hardened by difficulties and know how to fight until the last minute and get their way even when circumstances are not in their favor. All that remains is to make the final touch in Baku…
EMIN AKHMEDOV
