Azerbaijan's national football team faced a disappointing defeat in a friendly match against Haiti on March 22, 2025, at the Mehdi Huseynzade Stadium in Sumgait. The match ended with a score of 0-3, marking a challenging outing for the home team as they attempt to prepare for an upcoming fixture against Belarus.
Coached by Portuguese Fernando Santos, who previously led the Portuguese national team to victory at Euro 2016, Azerbaijan struggled throughout the contest. The Haitian squad quickly established dominance, scoring their first goal just nine minutes into the match when Pierre found the back of the net. This early set-back pressured the Azerbaijani players, who were unable to recover.
As the game unfolded, Haiti continued to exploit defensive vulnerabilities. With Azerbaijan trailing 0-1, Pierre struck again in the 63rd minute, doubling the lead and further diminishing the home team's hopes. Throughout the match, Azerbaijan attempted to regain control, yet their efforts fell short against a well-coordinated Haitian side.
The situation worsened for Azerbaijan in the 84th minute when Jafarguliyev received a red card, leaving his team with just ten players. This disadvantage became evident as Haiti capitalized on the opportunities presented in the final moments of the game, securing a third goal from Jean-Jacques in the 83rd minute.
As the final whistle blew, the scoreboard read 0-3 in favor of Haiti, leaving Azerbaijan with a significant loss to contemplate as they shift focus to their next match against Belarus. Following the match, pundits criticized the defensive organization and overall strategies employed by Azerbaijan, calling for urgent improvements before their next competitive outing.
In a separate match on the same day, Sweden suffered a defeat against Luxembourg, settling for a 0-1 scoreline, with Korac scoring the only goal of the match in the 23rd minute. This result reflects a broader trend of unexpected results during friendly matchups across national teams as they gear up for more serious competitions ahead.
The implications of Azerbaijan's performance in this friendly will likely resonate beyond just this match, raising questions regarding the team's readiness and strategy for the upcoming bouts. Fans, analysts, and stakeholders are keenly awaiting how Santos will adjust his game plan to address the issues revealed in this game.
As they head into the match against Belarus, Azerbaijan must parse through the criticisms and examine their tactics, ensuring they learn from this lackluster performance to foster resilience and improvement on the pitch. With the looming fixture ahead, the stakes are high, and every moment counts as they strive not just for victory, but to restore faith among their supporters.
