Malta succumbs to Azerbaijan after conceding early goal

Azerbaijan picked up their first points in UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying Group H, Cavid Hüseynov and Dmitri Nazarov doing the damage against Malta in Baku.

Malta had earned their first point in the section with a heroic 1-1 draw in Bulgaria last time out, but were on the back foot after Robert Prosinečki's side took a fourth-minute lead in the Croatian's first game in charge. Malta threatened late on, but substitute Nazarov hit a stylish second in the closing stages to confirm victory in Robert Prosinečki's first game in charge.

Namik Alaskarov put in a fine cross from the touchline, inviting Hüseynov to glance a header across Andrew Hogg and into the net for Azerbaijan's opener, the 27-year-old's unbridled celebrations a measure of his excitement at scoring his first competitive goal.

However, Malta might have been on level terms soon afterwards, Kamran Agayev sprawling to his left to fend away Alfred Effiong's shot from the edge of the box.

Azerbaijan could have pressed further ahead. Vüqar Nadirov turned and shot over, Hogg saved well from Afran Ismayilov and Ruslan Gurbanov's header from a corner whistled over the bar before the break, but the home side were to be hard pressed in the closing stages.

Stephen Pisani had a deflected shot claimed by Agayev, and a Ryan Fenech corner smacked into the near post, before Nazarov bent in a fine added-time strike from the edge of the box to confirm the win.