Despite a 2–1 defeat, Azerbaijan’s national football team showed glimpses of improvement in their friendly match against Hungary, a game that may have awakened the squad after months of lackluster performances.
While the loss adds to their winless streak and leaves their World Cup qualifying hopes hanging by a thread, the match brought something the team had been sorely missing: genuine desire and fighting spirit, Idman.biz reports.
Facing a well-established opponent with a rich footballing history, Azerbaijan was put to the test. Hungary, led by Liverpool star and team captain Dominik Szoboszlai, who scored the match-winning goal, exposed the hosts’ defensive vulnerabilities early, with Barnabás Varga netting the opener in just the fifth minute.
However, Azerbaijan responded well. Renat Dadashov ended a personal goalless run and equalized, ending the team’s dry spell of five consecutive games without scoring. The first half saw both teams actively pursuing attacking play, with Azerbaijan showing encouraging signs, particularly in their offensive energy.
Defensive errors persisted, but overall, the game had a dynamic and entertaining flow, a rare sight for Azerbaijan fans in recent months.
The second half, however, told a different story. Fernando Santos’ players appeared hesitant and reverted to a more cautious style. This conservative approach gave Hungary more room to attack, and they capitalized with numerous chances. Though the scoreline didn’t change, Hungary maintained control until the final whistle.
Late efforts by Azerbaijan, including several corners, came close to salvaging a draw, but ultimately fell short.
While the performance is far from perfect, especially with upcoming World Cup qualifiers against giants like France, Ukraine, and Iceland, the first half of the match showed promising signs of progress, particularly in attitude and ambition.
Zaki Feyzullayev
Idman.biz
