Zirə vs Hajduk: Resumen

In a tightly contested UEFA Europa Conference League qualification battle, Zirə FK and HNK Hajduk Split played out an absorbing 1-1 draw at the Neftçi Arena in Baku. The July afternoon heat didn't deter either side from producing an energetic display that kept the modest but vocal crowd engaged throughout the 90 minutes.

The Azerbaijani hosts took the lead just after the half-hour mark when Brahim Konaté capitalized on a well-worked move down the right flank, slotting home with composure past Ivica Ivušić. Zirə, under Rəşad Sadıqov's guidance, looked to build on their impressive home record but found themselves increasingly pegged back as the match progressed.

The Croatian visitors showed resilience and eventually found their reward in the 68th minute when Anthony Kalik struck a powerful equalizer, silencing the home supporters and scoring what was remarkably Hajduk's first away goal in their Conference League campaign.

The draw leaves both teams with work to do in the second leg in Split, though Hajduk will likely feel they have the advantage with an away goal in their pocket. The atmosphere in the Neftçi Arena shifted from jubilant to tense as the home supporters realized their team couldn't restore their advantage despite a late push.

For Zirə FK, this represents a continuation of their solid European campaign, while Hajduk Split will be relieved to have finally broken their away scoring drought in continental competition. The outcome sets up an intriguing return fixture where both sides will fancy their chances of progression to the next qualification round.

We showed good character today against a historically strong opponent. Taking the lead was deserved based on our first-half performance, but we perhaps dropped too deep in the second half and invited pressure. The tie is still very much alive, and we'll go to Split with confidence," stated Zirə FK coach Rəşad Sadıqov after the match.

"Coming to Azerbaijan is never easy, especially in these conditions. I'm proud of how the team responded after going behind. Scoring an away goal was crucial for us, and I believe we're in a good position for the home leg. Still, Zirə showed they are a quality side that we must respect," reflected Hajduk Split's coach Gonzalo García.

"It was important for us to not lose this first leg. The goal I scored gives us a slight advantage, but we know the job is only half done. The atmosphere at Poljud will be incredible for the return match," commented Anthony Kalik, Hajduk's goalscorer.

"We started well and controlled large portions of the game. Unfortunately, we couldn't maintain our lead, but that's European football - moments can change everything. We're still confident we can go to Croatia and get a result," said Brahim Konaté, who opened the scoring for Zirə.

"Both teams showed they belong at this level of European competition. Zirə's home record is impressive, and they demonstrated why today, but Hajduk's experience told in the end. The return leg in Split will be fascinating," analyzed former Croatian international and football pundit Ivan Perišić for HRT Sport.

Possession: Zirə FK 47% - 53% HNK Hajduk Split

Shots (On Target): Zirə FK 11 (4) - 14 (5) HNK Hajduk Split

Corners: Zirə FK 5 - 7 HNK Hajduk Split

Fouls: Zirə FK 14 - 12 HNK Hajduk Split

Yellow Cards: Zirə FK 3 (Tiago Silva 22', Ange Mutsinzi 54', Juninho Maranhense 79') - HNK Hajduk Split 2 (Marko Livaja 36', Šimun Hrgović 65')

Red Cards: None

Individual Performances:

Brahim Konaté (Zirə FK) - 1 goal, 3 shots, 89% pass completion rate

Juninho Maranhense (Zirə FK) - 2 key passes, 7 recoveries, 4 successful dribbles

Giorgi Papunashvili (Zirə FK) - 92% pass completion, 3 chances created

Anthony Kalik (Hajduk Split) - 1 goal, 2 shots on target, 85% pass completion

Marko Livaja (Hajduk Split) - 4 shots, 1 assist, 3 aerial duels won

Filip Krovinović (Hajduk Split) - 94% pass completion, 5 key passes, 2 interceptions

The statistics reflect the balanced nature of the encounter, with Hajduk enjoying slightly more possession and creating more chances, while Zirə demonstrated their efficiency by converting one of their fewer opportunities. The disciplined approach from both sides is evident in the relatively low foul count, though the intensity of the match required the referee to issue five yellow cards in total.

13' - First significant chance of the match falls to Zirə FK as Giorgi Papunashvili's long-range effort forces a fingertip save from Ivica Ivušić.

31' GOAL! (1-0) - Brahim Konaté opens the scoring for Zirə FK with a clinical finish after a quick counter-attack down the right wing. Juninho Maranhense provided the assist with a perfectly weighted through ball.

36' Yellow Card - Marko Livaja (Hajduk Split) cautioned for a late challenge on Tiago Silva.

45+2' - Half-time: Zirə FK 1-0 HNK Hajduk Split.

53' - Tactical change for Hajduk Split as coach Gonzalo García adjusts to a more attacking 4-3-3 formation, pushing Krovinović further forward.

58' - Double substitution for Zirə FK: Iron Gomis and Qismət Alıyev make way for fresh legs as the hosts look to maintain their advantage.

65' Yellow Card - Šimun Hrgović (Hajduk Split) booked for pulling back Juninho Maranhense who was breaking through midfield.

68' GOAL! (1-1) - Anthony Kalik equalizes for Hajduk Split with a powerful strike from the edge of the box after Marko Livaja's clever lay-off. The visitors' tactical adjustment pays dividends.

79' Yellow Card - Juninho Maranhense (Zirə FK) sees yellow for a tactical foul to stop a promising Hajduk counter-attack.

83' - Golden opportunity for Zirə FK to retake the lead as Guima's close-range header goes narrowly wide following a well-delivered corner.

90+4' - Full-time: Zirə FK 1-1 HNK Hajduk Split.

The encounter at Neftçi Arena marked only the second competitive meeting between Zirə FK and HNK Hajduk Split, with their first clash coming in a friendly tournament during winter preparations in January 2024, which ended in a 2-0 victory for the Croatian side.

Historical Context:

• This is Zirə FK's third UEFA Europa Conference League campaign
• Hajduk Split has participated in European competitions regularly, with this being their fourth consecutive Conference League qualification attempt

Key Individual Battles:

Brahim Konaté vs. Šimun Hrgović: Konaté's pace and direct running caused problems for Hrgović throughout the match, culminating in the opening goal and later drawing a yellow card from the Croatian defender.

Juninho Maranhense vs. Filip Krovinović: The midfield battle between these two playmakers was fascinating, with Juninho's creativity for Zirə matched by Krovinović's metronomic passing and tactical intelligence for Hajduk.

Marko Livaja vs. Ange Mutsinzi: Experienced Hajduk striker Livaja had a physical duel with Zirə's central defender Mutsinzi, which the defender largely handled well despite giving away some dangerous free-kicks.

Tactical Analysis: Zirə FK's approach focused on rapid transitions and exploiting space behind Hajduk's full-backs, particularly effective in the first half. Hajduk's adjustment to a more possession-based game in the second half, combined with pushing their fullbacks higher, eventually paid dividends with the equalizer.

Both teams demonstrated their tactical flexibility, with Zirə showing why they have such a strong home record while Hajduk displayed the resilience that has made them a consistent force in Croatian football. The return leg promises to be equally tactical, with Hajduk likely to utilize their home advantage and passionate support at the Poljud Stadium.