Friendly neighbours reconvene in Baku
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Article summary
Ten years and a day after they last met in Baku, Azerbaijan host Turkey in UEFA EURO 2012 Group A hoping to secure a first victory in their eighth game against their friendly neighbours.
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The friendliest of neighbours despite Turkey's land border with the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan being only 15km long, the two nations will meet in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group A with bottom seeds Azerbaijan determined to spring an upset.
Match background
• Azerbaijan's record in seven games against Turkey reads W0 D2 L5 (W0 D2 L3 at home).
• The sides last met in Kayseri, Turkey, on 2 June 2009, when Turkey clinched a 2-0 friendly victory. Their most recent meeting in Baku produced a 1-1 draw in another friendly on 12 April 2006.
• The only competitive fixtures between the two teams came in qualifying for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. On 11 October 2000 – ten years and a day before their upcoming meeting – Hakan Şükür hit the only goal as Turkey prevailed in Baku. Tayfun Korkut then scored either side of an Oktay Derelioğlu strike to give Turkey a 3-0 win in the return fixture.