Azerbaijan 1-1 Ukraine Player Ratings: Emin Mahmudov Rated 8/10 as Tense Draw as Both Sides Convert Penalties 1-1

A cagey and tense affair at the Tofiq Bəhramov adına Respublika stadium saw Azerbaijan battle to a 1-1 draw with Ukraine. This was a classic smash-and-grab performance from the home side. They absorbed immense pressure for large parts of the match.

Ukraine thought they had a breakthrough in the opening minutes. But an early penalty call was overturned after a VAR review. They eventually took a deserved lead through Georgiy Sudakov early in the second half. From our perspective, it seemed like they would cruise to victory from there.

However, Azerbaijan showed incredible resilience and fought their way back. They were gifted a route back into the game from the penalty spot. A costly handball by Oleksandr Zinchenko was the turning point, allowing Emin Mahmudov to equalize. It was a backs-to-the-wall effort to secure a vital point in this WC Qualification Europe clash.

Here are Azerbaijan Vs Ukraine Player Ratings

Azerbaijan Player Ratings vs Ukraine

Here are Azerbaijan Player Ratings vs Ukraine

Goalkeeper

Shahrudin Mahammadaliyev - 7.5: A heroic performance from the man between the sticks. He made four crucial saves, including a couple of fantastic stops late in the game to preserve the draw. Commanded his area well with a good high claim. The late yellow card for time-wasting was a testament to the pressure he was under. A massive reason his team earned a point.

Defenders

Elvin Cafarquliyev - 6.5: A busy evening for the defender. He was involved in the action with 38 touches and tried to get forward, delivering two accurate crosses. However, he also lost possession 11 times. A mixed but decent performance overall, holding his own in his duels.

Bahlul Mustafazada - 6.0: A game of two halves for Mustafazada. He had a nightmare start, conceding a penalty scare and picking up a yellow card in the first three minutes. But what stood out to us was his recovery. He put his body on the line, making an incredible seven clearances and blocking four shots. Showed great character to bounce back.

Anton Kryvotsiuk - 7.0: A very solid and dependable presence at the back. We noticed his reading of the game, which led to nine clearances and two interceptions. He won two-thirds of his duels and was composed in possession. A quiet but extremely effective performance from the central defender.

Elvin Badalov - 6.0: He had some difficult moments, particularly with his distribution, completing only 1 of his 6 long balls. He was steady enough defensively, making five clearances. Not a standout performance, but he did his job without any major errors.

Qismat Aliyev - 5.5: Struggled to make a significant impact on the game before being substituted. He only won one of his six duels and was dispossessed twice. Found it tough against Ukraine's energetic attackers and couldn't provide much going forward.

Midfielders

Emin Mahmudov - 8.0: The undisputed star for Azerbaijan. He showed immense character and leadership throughout the match. His moment came from the penalty spot, and he dispatched it with a cool head under extreme pressure. Beyond the goal, he worked tirelessly, winning three tackles and making three interceptions. A true captain's performance and our highest-rated player for the home side.

Mahir Emreli - 6.0: A quiet game for the midfielder. He was neat in possession with 85% pass accuracy but failed to offer a real threat in the final third. He had a headed chance that went wide. Was substituted after 66 minutes having made little impression.

Abdulakh Khaybulayev - 6.5: A real battler in the middle of the park. He threw himself into tackles and made three crucial interceptions. His energy was important for his team, but he was a bit loose in possession at times. An unfortunate injury cut his evening short.

Rustam Ahmadzada - 5.0: A performance to forget. From our perspective, he looked off the pace and struggled to get involved. He lost possession nine times in his 53 minutes on the pitch and committed a couple of fouls. It was no surprise to see him taken off early in the second half.

Forwards

Renat Dadashov - 5.5: It was a frustrating and thankless task for the lone striker. He was isolated for large periods and struggled to hold up the ball, losing it 11 times. He won a decent number of duels but couldn't link up play effectively. Picked up a yellow card for his troubles.

Substitutes

Toral Bayramov - 6.0: Came on to add fresh legs but didn't change the game.

Musa Qurbanli - 6.0: Added a presence but had little service.

Anatoli Nuriyev - 6.0: Worked hard after coming on.

Abbas Hüseynov - 6.0: Helped shore things up defensively.

Sabuhi Abdullazada - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Manager

F. Fernandes da Costa Santos - 7.0: His game plan worked perfectly. He set his team up to be compact, resilient, and hard to break down. They ceded possession but never lost their shape. His substitutions were logical to maintain energy levels. A very valuable and well-earned point.

Ukraine Player Ratings vs Azerbaijan

Here are Ukraine Player Ratings vs Azerbaijan

Goalkeeper

Anatoliy Trubin - 6.5: Had very little to do for most of the match. He couldn't have done much about the penalty. He was very comfortable with the ball at his feet, boasting a 92% pass accuracy. Claimed a couple of high balls confidently but was largely a spectator.

Defenders

Yukhym Konoplya - 6.5: A solid and reliable performance from the right-back. He was strong in the tackle, winning both of his attempts. Didn't offer a huge amount going forward, but he ensured his defensive duties were performed diligently. A steady, if unspectacular, outing.

Ilya Zabarnyi - 6.0: He was extremely involved, with 91 touches, but it was a mixed performance. He was ambitious with his passing, attempting 14 long balls, but this led to him losing possession 23 times. Made some important blocks but looked a little frantic at times.

Oleksandr Zinchenko - 5.5: This will be a game he wants to forget. He was good in possession and dictated play from a deeper role for large parts. However, the moment of madness where he conceded the penalty for handball completely overshadowed his performance. It was a costly and decisive error.

Mykola Matvienko - 7.0: The conductor from the back. He had an incredible 116 touches and completed 94 passes, constantly trying to build attacks. He was defensively sound and even created a chance. A very composed performance, but ultimately he couldn't find the killer pass to unlock the defense.

Midfielders

Ivan Kalyuzhnyi - 7.0: An impressive engine room performance before his substitution. He was a dominant force, winning seven of his ten duels and making three successful tackles. His energy and aggression were key to Ukraine's control of the midfield. The yellow card was the only blemish.

Oleg Ocheretko - 7.0: Another strong midfield display. What stood out was his tackling, winning four of his five attempts. He kept the ball moving efficiently and provided a strong screen for his defense. A very disciplined and effective 75 minutes.

Artem Bondarenko - 6.5: Kept play ticking over beautifully with a 96% pass accuracy. He got into advanced areas and tried to make things happen, creating one chance. A neat and tidy performance, though perhaps lacking a decisive impact in the final third.

Forwards

Vladyslav Vanat - 5.5: A really tough evening for the striker. He was starved of service and struggled to get into the game, touching the ball just 14 times. He was caught offside and won only one of his four duels. It wasn't a surprise to see him substituted after an hour.

Georgiy Sudakov - 8.0: Ukraine's brightest spark by a distance. He took his goal very well and was a constant threat throughout. Always looking for the ball, he took four shots and created three chances for his teammates. A dynamic and influential display, he was a joy to watch.

Oleksandr Zubkov - 8.0: A fantastic performance on the wing. He provided a smart assist for Sudakov's goal and was a creative force, setting up three chances. He put in ten crosses, and while the accuracy wasn't perfect, his intent was always positive. A very dangerous and impactful player.

Substitutes

Artem Dovbyk - 6.0: Replaced Vanat but missed a great headed chance late on.

Yehor Yarmoliuk - 6.5: Looked tidy in possession.

Mykola Shaparenko - 6.5: Forced a great save with a long-range shot.

Nazar Voloshyn - 6.0: Added some energy.

Bohdan Mykhailichenko - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Manager

S. Rebrov - 6.5: His team completely dominated possession and created enough opportunities to win. Tactically, they had Azerbaijan pinned back for most of the game. However, they were undone by an individual error and couldn't find a second goal. A frustrating day for him, as two points were definitely dropped.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Emin Mahmudov