Former coach of the Azerbaijan national team, Arif Asadov, shared his thoughts on the matches of Round 22 of the Misli Premier League in an exclusive statement to Offsideplus.az.

Kapaz 3:0 Sumgait

"In the opening match of the round, Kapaz was clearly the superior side, as the scoreline suggests. The team started strong from the first minutes and kept the opponent under pressure. The goals scored in the first half decided the fate of the tie. Sumgayit, on the other hand, seemed to be suffering from low morale. Although the exact reason is unknown, this was clearly visible throughout the match."

Araz-Naxchivan 0:1 Zira

"We witnessed an interesting game here. Both teams are fighting for a spot in European competitions. Araz-Naxchivan dominated the first half and could have taken the lead, but they failed to capitalize on their chances. Zira gradually took control of the pitch and secured 3 vital points thanks to a late goal."

Shamakhi 2:2 Neftchi

"This was a dynamic and intense struggle. We watched a game full of intrigue. Neftchi has been performing well lately, and the positive atmosphere in the team was evident. However, taking points away from Shamakhi on their home turf is always difficult. The flow of the game was fairly balanced, but Neftchi let the victory slip away in the final minutes, losing two crucial points."

Gabala 1:1 Karvan Yevlax

"Gabala has looked much better since the winter break, showing a more settled style of play. Although Gabala was the favorite against the underdog Karvan before the match, the Yevlax representatives showed they were well-prepared. By demonstrating a disciplined performance, Karvan earned an important point."

Turan Tovuz 0:0 Imishli

"Winning three points was vital for Turan Tovuz to extend their lead over Zira and Araz-Naxchivan, but they couldn't seize the opportunity. Imishli proved once again that they are capable of taking points from any opponent."

Qarabag 2:2 Sabah

"In my opinion, the final match of the round between Qarabag and Sabah was one of the best games of the season. Both teams were seriously prepared. While a single point might have satisfied Sabah before kickoff, the course of the match showed that they actually lost two points. Sabah looked superior from the start and delivered the performance they wanted. However, after the 70th minute, Qarabag used their experience to stage a comeback and secure a draw."

It should be noted that Sabah currently leads the standings with 53 points.