Former Azerbaijan national team player Bakhtiyar Musayev evaluated the first games of the 1/4 stage of the national cup.
He revealed to Idman.biz the identities of the three teams he envisions in the semifinals as well as the fate of several couples that have already been determined.
According to Musayev, Zira defeated Sabail 2:1 away from home and will maintain this advantage: "Rashad Sadygov's team outplayed its opponent. I see Zira as the winner in the return match. I don't believe that Sabail will make a comeback and call it a stage. I think that Zira will qualify for the semi-finals."
Musayev, who watched the match between Sabah and Qarabag, admitted that he was surprised by the score of 1:7, which he did not expect in the match. After consecutive goals, when the representative of the capital tried to make a comeback, Qarabag used this to increase the difference between the scores. Of course, we wouldn't be wrong if we say that Gurban Gurbanov's team is already in the semi-finals. "Sabah" is also a team that innovates a lot. However, Qarabag is showing a completely different game today. I think that he is capable of winning against any opponent by scoring more than 3 goals."
Musayev recalled that Samir Abasov, the head coach of the home team, put the cup on the back burner in the match between Sumgayit and Neftchi. He connected this with the lack of a large staff of the "City of Youth" representative: "Abasov himself said this. This thought occurred to me before the match. Neftchi can play every three days as the team is large. For this reason, the Baku players who won with a score of 3:2 will advance to the semi-finals. Because the physical condition of "Sumgayit" does not allow to play every 3 days.
Musayev considers both teams lucky only in the duel between Araz Nakhchivan and Gabala (1:1). According to him, it is difficult to say who will win the return match as Elmar Bakhshiyev's team plays unstable: Gabala has a very weak impact. But sometimes it happens that they can gather and show interesting football. The odds are 50/50 on this pair. However, the mood of Gabala can affect the game. Because if they take the match more seriously and pay attention, they can win on their own field."
It should be noted that the return matches of the 1/4 final stage of the Azerbaijan Cup will be held on February 8-9.
Banuchichek Huseynli
Idman.biz
