Azerbaijan round-up: Khazar overcome early setback

FK Khazar Universiteti had to come from behind to beat an under-strength FK Umid Baku side 2-1 in the Azeri First Division on Saturday.

Quick reply
Umid, beset by financial difficulties, named a squad of just 12 players for the game but took a fifth-minute lead through former Khazar player Vugar Gurbanov. However, Khazar found a quick equaliser thanks to 17-year-old Orkhan Rajabov and Zahir Askerov scored the winner ten minutes into the second half.

Alyev on target
FK Bakili Baku and FK Turan Tovuz also recorded victories. Bakili beat MOIK Baku 2-0 thanks to goals from Tehmuraz Rzaev and Yalchyn Bagirov, while Turan handed FK Dinamo Baku a 1-0 defeat with Sakit Alyev scoring the solitary goal from a free-kick.

Talybov woe
Afgan Talybov's first game in temporary charge of FK Adliyye Baku, following the sacking of Abbas Huseynov last Sunday, ended in defeat at the hands of FK Shamkir. Rovshan Ahmedov and Viktor Kulikov scored the goals for Shamkir in a 2-0 victory.

Magical Musayev
Elsewhere, FK Neftchi Baku beat FK Shahdag-Samur Qusar 1-0 thanks to Vadim Vasilyev's solitary fourth-minute goal while Ruslan Musayev's hat-trick helped FK Shafa Baku beat FK Lokomotiv Baku 5-0.

Late hat-trick
In the day's other game, Karabakh-Azersun Agdam recorded a 5-2 victory against FK Khazar Sumgayit, for whom Shahmar Abdullayev scored twice. But goals from Azer Jabbarov and Eldaniz Mamedov, followed by Samir Musayev's late hat-trick, gave Karabakh the points.