The Belarus national football team secured a 2-0 victory over Azerbaijan during a friendly match held on March 25, 2025, at the Bank Respublika Arena in Masazyr, Baku. Goals from Pavel Zabelin and Nikita Demchenko led the Belarusians to success.
In the match, Zabelin opened the scoring in the 59th minute, followed by Demchenko sealing the deal with another goal in the 78th minute, thanks to a pass from Max Ebon.
Having performed poorly in their recent football endeavors, Azerbaijan struggled mightily in the League of Nations, finishing at the bottom of their group with only one point and conceding a total of 17 goals in six matches. Their dire form continued into 2025, as they recently lost a friendly match against Haiti 0-3 just before facing Belarus.
Belarus has shown considerable improvement, achieving three victories in their last six matches and scoring a commendable 12 points in the recently concluded League of Nations season. They entered this friendly match with a boosted morale after a resounding 5-0 triumph against Tajikistan.
This match marked a significant milestone for Sergei Politevich, who played his 50th match for Belarus during this encounter.
The teams originally met in a qualifying round for Euro 2024, where Azerbaijan had better fortune before Belarus improved their standing considerably. The build-up to the game saw worry for Azerbaijan, with many anticipating their dismal scoring run to continue, as they had failed to find the net in several past fixtures.
Despite a shaky first half with both teams failing to score, the Belarusians appeared more organized and threatened frequently. On two occasions in the first half, they came close to breaking the deadlock, only to see their shots go off target or saved by the Azerbaijani goalkeeper.
As the second half began, Belarus continued applying pressure and soon broke the stalemate. Zabelin’s first goal was the result of a free-kick taken quickly, allowing him to capitalize after a scramble in the defensive box.
Following this, Demchenko's inclusion as a substitute proved fruitful when he netted Belarus's second goal, putting the visitors in a commanding position ahead of the closing stages of the match.
With the victory, Belarus effectively showcased not just an impressive performance, but also rallied fans behind a team many viewed as underdogs in the contest. Their solid result will feed confidence into their upcoming matches as they seek to build upon their recent successes.
The referee for the match was Aleko Apciauri from Georgia.
This friendly win marks another chapter in a tumultuous year for both teams, with Azerbaijan on a much-needed hunt for redemption.
As the teams look ahead, Belarus aims to solidify their newfound confidence, while Azerbaijan must confront their growing woes head-on.
