Idman.biz
"The field factor made itself felt. We knew we would be playing on a natural pitch. We play 90 percent of the matches in the championship on artificial turf and we train on artificial turf ourselves. Perhaps this moment did not allow us to achieve what we wanted. My players fulfilled the tasks I gave them."
Qazafar Abbasov, head coach of "Garadag Lokbatan", commented on the match they lost to "Imishli" with a last-minute goal in the II qualifying round of the Bizon Azerbaijan Cup:
"As soon as the game started, "Imishli" wanted to score an early goal. We caught the opponent on the counterattack and scored our first goal. Then the opponent increased the pressure. This was expected. We managed to keep the score in the first half. As soon as the second half started, "Imishli" made 4 substitutions. As soon as these 4 players entered the field, they increased the pressure even more and scored the equalizer. However, my players did not lose heart. After taking the lead for the second time in the score, the opponent was confused. Our players felt tired, so we made a forced change. The players who entered the field could not get into the game well and the opponent scored the second goal. In the end, "Imishli" scored the winning goal in extra time," he said in his statement to sport24.az.
Abbasov also spoke about the difference between the elite and lower leagues:
"The level difference between the Premier League and the Second League is great. The clubs of the First or Second League are at the same level. As "Garadag Lokbatan", we are trying to keep our level at the level of the First League, not the Second. We have players suitable for that. It's just that last season was a failure and the team was relegated to the Second League. We will try to return to the First League again. The match with "Imishli" was an exam for our players. They saw what they are capable of, what they are good at."
It should be noted that the match "Garadag Lokbatan" - "Imishli" ended with a score of 2:3.
