Azerbaijan 1 - 0 Tajikistan: Santos gets a narrow Baku win from a messy friendly
Final score: Azerbaijan 1 - 0 Tajikistan
Azerbaijan beat Tajikistan 1 - 0 on September 23, 2026, at Palms Sports Arena, Baku, in a friendly that offered little glamour but plenty of useful information for Fernando Santos. The only goal came in the 58th minute, when Tajikistan goalkeeper Oleg Baklov was credited with an own goal.
That was enough. Not elegant, not expansive, but controlled enough. For Santos, this was the kind of match that matters in the background: shape, discipline, substitutions, minutes in legs, and a clean sheet. Azerbaijan got the basics right.
Tajikistan, coached by M. Mukhamadiev, had slightly more of the ball, with 52% possession, and matched Azerbaijan with 4 shots on goal. But they also committed 23 fouls and never quite turned possession into pressure that changed the match.
The story
This was a friendly decided by one blunt fact: Azerbaijan were more stable after the break.
The first half was contained, with Azerbaijan set up in a 3-5-2 and Tajikistan’s official lineup feed carrying no confirmed formation. Santos started with Emil Balayev in goal, a back three of Rahman Dashdamirov, Elvin Badalov and Rahil Mammadov, with Toral Bayramov and Tellur Mutallimov providing the width. In midfield, Aleksey Isayev, Emin Mahmudov and Abdulakh Khaybulaev worked behind Rahim Sadikhov and Musa Qurbanlı.
Mukhamadiev picked Oleg Baklov in goal, with Alidzhon Karomatullozoda, Vakhdat Khanonov, Zoir Dzhuraboev and Tabrez Islomov in defence. Alisher Shukurov, Shervoni Mabatshoev, Parvizdzhon Umarbaev, Alisher Dzhalilov and Salokhiddin Irgashev were listed in midfield, with Rustam Soirov up front.
Azerbaijan made three changes in the 46th minute: Emil Safarov replaced Emin Mahmudov, Murad Khachayev replaced Rahman Dashdamirov, and Mahir Emreli replaced Rahim Sadikhov. Tajikistan also changed in the 46th minute, with Sheriddin Boboev coming on for Rustam Soirov.
That reshaped the match. Azerbaijan looked fresher in central areas and more direct in the front line. Emreli mattered because his arrival gave Azerbaijan a different attacking reference. Safarov mattered because he added energy to midfield, even if his evening later included a yellow card in the 73rd minute.
The decisive passage came quickly. Alisher Shukurov was booked in the 57th minute. One minute later, Oleg Baklov scored an own goal in the 58th minute. Tajikistan reacted immediately, sending on Amirbek Dzhuraboev for Alisher Dzhalilov and Furkon Rakhimzoda for Salokhiddin Irgashev in the 59th minute.
But from there, Azerbaijan managed the game better than they lit it up.
Why Azerbaijan edged it
Azerbaijan’s 3-5-2 gave Santos a platform. The back three allowed Rahil Mammadov, Elvin Badalov and, first, Rahman Dashdamirov to protect the middle, while Bayramov and Mutallimov gave width before both were eventually replaced.
The key was not dominance. It was control of risk.
Tajikistan had more possession, but Azerbaijan kept the shot count level where it mattered: 4 shots on goal each. In a low-scoring friendly, that is often enough. Azerbaijan did not need to overwhelm Tajikistan; they needed to keep the game tight, force mistakes, and survive the final rotation phase.
Santos also used the bench aggressively. In the 63rd minute, Renat Dadaşov replaced Musa Qurbanlı, Aykhan Guseynov replaced Aleksey Isayev, and Edgar Adilkhanov replaced Tellur Mutallimov. Those changes helped Azerbaijan keep enough pressure on the ball after the goal.
Tajikistan tried to answer with volume. Fatkhullo Olimzoda replaced Alisher Shukurov in the 70th minute, and Nozim Babajanov replaced Shervoni Mabatshoev in the 70th minute. Later, in the 79th minute, Mukhamadiev sent on Sodikdzhon Kurbonov, Mukhammadzhon Rakhimov and Shahrom Samiev for Alidzhon Karomatullozoda, Parvizdzhon Umarbaev and Tabrez Islomov.
Still, Azerbaijan held.
Discipline and control
The match got scrappy after the goal.
Emil Safarov was booked in the 73rd minute. Edgar Adilkhanov followed with a yellow card in the 75th minute. Then Alidzhon Karomatullozoda was booked for Tajikistan in the 76th minute.
That three-minute spell told the story of the second half: Azerbaijan were protecting a narrow lead, Tajikistan were chasing a way back, and neither side found much rhythm. Tajikistan’s 23 fouls against Azerbaijan’s 17 also reflected how often the game broke down before it could open up.
Numbers
| Statistic | Azerbaijan | Tajikistan |
|---|---|---|
| Shots on Goal | 4 | 4 |
| Shots off Goal | 4 | 6 |
| Blocked Shots | 3 | 2 |
| Fouls | 17 | 23 |
| Corner Kicks | 4 | 3 |
| Offsides | 2 | 1 |
| Ball Possession | 48% | 52% |
| Yellow Cards | 2 | 2 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
Official key facts
- Final score: Azerbaijan 1 - 0 Tajikistan
- Goal: Oleg Baklov own goal in the 58th minute, credited to Azerbaijan
- Yellow Card: Alisher Shukurov in the 57th minute
- Yellow Card: Emil Safarov in the 73rd minute
- Yellow Card: Edgar Adilkhanov in the 75th minute
- Yellow Card: Alidzhon Karomatullozoda in the 76th minute
Substitutions
| Minute | Team | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 46' | Azerbaijan | Emil Safarov on for Emin Mahmudov |
| 46' | Azerbaijan | Murad Khachayev on for Rahman Dashdamirov |
| 46' | Azerbaijan | Mahir Emreli on for Rahim Sadikhov |
| 46' | Tajikistan | Sheriddin Boboev on for Rustam Soirov |
| 59' | Tajikistan | Amirbek Dzhuraboev on for Alisher Dzhalilov |
| 59' | Tajikistan | Furkon Rakhimzoda on for Salokhiddin Irgashev |
| 63' | Azerbaijan | Renat Dadaşov on for Musa Qurbanlı |
| 63' | Azerbaijan | Aykhan Guseynov on for Aleksey Isayev |
| 63' | Azerbaijan | Edgar Adilkhanov on for Tellur Mutallimov |
| 70' | Azerbaijan | Farid Yusifli on for Abdulakh Khaybulaev |
| 70' | Tajikistan | Fatkhullo Olimzoda on for Alisher Shukurov |
| 70' | Tajikistan | Nozim Babajanov on for Shervoni Mabatshoev |
| 77' | Azerbaijan | Rüfat Abbasov on for Toral Bayramov |
| 79' | Tajikistan | Sodikdzhon Kurbonov on for Alidzhon Karomatullozoda |
| 79' | Tajikistan | Mukhammadzhon Rakhimov on for Parvizdzhon Umarbaev |
| 79' | Tajikistan | Shahrom Samiev on for Tabrez Islomov |
What it means
For Azerbaijan, this was a friendly win with a clean sheet and a useful checkpoint for Santos. The performance was not a statement, but it was a small step: an organised back line, useful second-half changes, and no collapse after going ahead.
For Tajikistan, the frustration is obvious. More possession, the same number of shots on goal, but defeat by an own goal. Mukhamadiev will look at the foul count and the lack of cutting edge as the next items on the list.
Elsewhere in the international window, the same theme appeared in different forms: Gibraltar 0 - 0 Sao Tome and Principe showed possession without punch at Europa Point, while Solomon Islands 3 - 3 Vanuatu delivered a six-goal regional fight. Azerbaijan chose the narrower route: one goal, no concession, job done.
