Day: November 16, 2023

Sweden in shock Arz defeat

Azerbaijan made history by securing their first-ever victory against Sweden, achieving a remarkable 3-0 win during the 2024 UEFA European Championship qualifying (UECQ) held at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium.

Janne Anderson’s seven-year tenure as manager is drawing to a close, given Sweden’s inability to qualify for a second consecutive major tournament, making his position untenable. Despite this, the clash against Azerbaijan presented an opportunity to conclude his final week on a positive note. Azerbaijan, who had never scored against Sweden and suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat in their previous encounter, displayed signs of improvement lately. Under Gianni De Biasi’s leadership, they narrowly lost to Group F heavyweights Belgium and Austria. If results in other groups align favorably, Azerbaijan could secure a play-off spot for Germany’s upcoming championship.

In a stunning turn of events, Azerbaijan found themselves 2-0 ahead within just six minutes. Taking advantage of a sluggish Swedish start, Renat Dadashov set up Emin Mahmudov for the opening goal, capitalizing on Victor Lindelöf’s lapse. Dadashov then turned scorer, burying Aleksey Isayev’s pass to extend the lead. Despite a close-range attempt by Victor Gyökeres cleared off the line, Sweden struggled, explaining their meager six points from six games in the qualification process.

Sweden received a lifeline after the break when Behlul Mustafazade was sent off for fouling Gyökeres just outside the box. Although a penalty was initially awarded, Shakhruddin Magomedaliyev denied Emil Forsberg’s powerful free-kick by tipping it onto the crossbar.

Even with a numerical advantage, Sweden posed minimal threat, with Robin Quaison’s header narrowly missing the target as their best chance to stage a comeback. Emin Mahmudov sealed Azerbaijan’s triumph in style, launching a spectacular strike from inside his half to lob Robin Olsen and ignite celebrations among the home crowd.

While Sweden is currently not at their peak, Azerbaijan’s monumental triumph should not be overlooked. It marks only their second win in 24 qualification games for major tournaments and their second consecutive victory in UECQ. For Sweden, this defeat is undoubtedly humiliating, considering their underperformance despite the talent within their squad.

Spain just too good for Cyprus

Spain clinched their fifth consecutive win in Euro 2024 qualifying by comfortably defeating Cyprus 3-1 at the Alphamega Stadium. This victory propelled them as undisputed leaders of Group A, two points ahead of Scotland.

Luis de la Fuente opted for nine alterations from the previous match that secured their qualification against Norway. With only Gavi and Robin Le Normand retaining their spots, Spain faced little challenge from the bottom-ranked Group A team. They quickly took the lead as Mikel Merino’s pass found Lamine Yamal, Spain’s youngest-ever scorer, who calmly netted in the fifth minute.

Mikel Oyarzabal increased Spain’s lead in the 24th minute with a well-placed shot from Álex Grimaldo’s assist, following a VAR-reviewed offside call. Joselu added a third four minutes later from Oyarzabal’s corner. However, Oyarzabal exited the game due to a hamstring injury, making way for Rodrigo Riquelme, who debuted before halftime.

Despite Spain’s dominance, the crowd in Limassol entertained themselves with a Mexican wave. Riquelme attempted a goal from the right flank but missed the target. Cyprus then surprised Spain with an excellently executed goal by Kostas Pileas, courtesy of Charalampos Charalampous’ precise pass, narrowing the gap.

The hosts’ goal didn’t lead to an unexpected turnaround. Spain continued their unbeaten streak across competitions, securing their spot atop Group A after Scotland’s 2-2 draw with Georgia. Cyprus, on the other hand, suffered their eighth consecutive defeat in Euro 2024 qualifying, continuing their disappointing campaign.