An early third minute strike and an added injury time goal proved to be enough for Azerbaijan to obtain their first points in this competition, pushing Malta into bottom place of the Group.

The Malta team had not yet settled down when Huseynov rose high to head home past a helpless Hogg to give the home side the early lead. Substitute Dmitri Nazarov then scored a wonder goal deep into injury time to kill all Malta’s hopes of salvaging a draw.

It was a harsh result on Ghedin’s side which reacted well to the early setback and then suffered that second goal at a time when they were pressing hard in search of an equaliser.

Ghedin made some changes to the side he fielded against Georgia in last Wednesday’s friendly in Tbilisi.

Hogg replaced Haber in goal, while Roderick Briffa and Paul Fenech were included in midfield. This not to mention striker Alfred Effiong who this time made his first official start.

In the first half, that early goal gave the home side the confidence they needed. They took control of midfield – also helped by some Maltese erratic passing – but only on a few other occasions, they proved to be dangerous.

On the contrary, Malta only had one real scoring chance – Effiong this time was denied by a splendid save by the Azeri goalie.

Otherwise, the Maltese were good in defence where Andrei Agius, Steve Borg and Jonathan Caruana, were again great protagonists.

The presence of Briffa and Fenech in midfield made our midfield more effective, but unfortunately, our boys still indulged in losing the ball in just a few seconds after having worked hard to win possession.

In the second half, the Azeris maintained the initiative at first, but as time passed by, the Maltese started pushing forward and pressed hard on goal in the final 20 minutes in search of an equaliser.

Ghedin’s boys showed determination and commitment from start to finish, but unfortunately it again proved to be not enough to avoid a defeat away from home.

Azerbaijan quickly took the initiative and did not take long to open the scoring. It was in the third minute that Alesgerov crossed into the Malta area and Huseynov anticipated Caruana to head past the helpless Hogg.

Malta was suffering the initiative to the hosts, but in the 11^th minute, Ghedin’s boys almost obtained an equaliser when Andre Schembri set Alfred Effiong beautifully, but the latter’s fine volley was brilliantly turner to corner by the Azeri goalie Agayev.

In the 22^nd minute, Azerbaijan went close to a second goal. From a low cross by Ismayilov, it was Nadirov who tried his luck with a good effort that just missed the crossbar.

Three minutes later, Hogg was the protagonist as he dived sideways to save a grounder from Huseynov.

The Azeri striker was again a tormentor for the Malta defence in the 29^th minute, but luckily, he mishit the ball when in an ideal position.

Azerbaijan remained mostly in control of midfield, but had to wait till just before the interval whistle to create another occasion. From an Ismayilov cornerkick, substitute Gurbanov went close with a good header which sailed harmlessly over the bar.

In the 52^nd minute, Andrew Hogg had to rush out of his charge to intercept a Huseynov pass towards Ismayilov.

In the 63^rd minute, Alfred Effiong received a good ball from Briffa, but after advancing a few paces, saw his effort going over.

Immediately after, at the other end, after Rowen Muscat lost a ball in midfield, it was Hogg who kept Malta in contention, as he dived to turn to corner with great difficulty a Nadirov shot.

Malta’s first conclusion on goal in this half arrived in the 77^th minute through an Andre Schembri effort which was saved by goalie Agayev.

Malta pushed forward in search of an equaliser and after a weak header by Fenech which was saved by Agayev, it was substitute Steve Pisani who, on 83 minutes, tested the Azeri goalie, but the latter saved confidently.

Four minutes later, from a Ryan Fenech cornerkick, an Azeri defender miskicked the ball which, however, hit the upright.

Malta pressed hard till the very end, but the Azeris amassed their defence and managed to defend their precious lead successfully.

 

Deep into added time, Azerbaijan scored their second and final goal – a splendid volley from the edge of the area by Dmitri Nazarov which beat Hogg all the way.