Azerbaijan round-up: Neftchi held

FC Neftchi lead the Yuksek Deste in Azerbaijan by three points after Sunday's 1-1 draw with FC Shafa. Vadim Vasilyev set Neftchi on course for victory when he put them in front after 20 minutes. But the visitors salvaged a draw after Emil Kitelman netted a 49th-minute equaliser.

Kepez third
Kepez are in third place, four points behind Neftchi, after two first-half goals saw off FC Shahdag Qusar. Rovshan Suleymanov gave Kepez a 33rd-minute lead when he scored a penalty. Kenan Kerimov doubled their lead shortly afterwards, and they hung on for a 2-1 win after Kamran Nurahmedov had pulled back a goal for Shahdag.

OMIK closer to safety
FC OMIK Baku edged closer to safety after securing a dramatic 4-3 home victory over FC Araz. Rashad Mamedov put the hosts in front and Ramin Nasibov added a second just before half time after Bakram Shahguliyev had momentarily equalised for Araz. Samir Mamedov and Zaur Asadov left OMIK 4-1 up after 57 minutes but goals from Anar Kelentarov and Jekhun Aliyev made for a nervy finale.