Azerbaijan round-up: Shamkir back with a bang

Reigning Azerbaijani champions FC Shamkir replaced FC Neftchi at the Yuksek Deste summit as the season resumed after the winter break on Wednesday.

Two clear
Shamkir claimed a 1-0 home win over FC Shafa while Neftchi slipped to a 2-1 defeat against third-placed FC Kapaz, who are now within three points of their rivals. Badri Kvaratskhelia's 36th-minute strike was enough to earn all three points for Shamkir, who opened a two-point lead over Neftchi with a game in hand. Meanwhile, goals from Vasif Veliev and Kenan Kerimov handed Neftchi only their third defeat of the campaign. Farrukh Ismailov netted a late consolation for the former leaders.

Biggest win of the day
FC Turan scored the biggest win of the day, beating strugglers FC Dinamo-Bakili 4-0. Former Georgian international Georgi Kilasonia scored twice on his debut after signing five days ago. Mekhman Ibragimov headed home for the opener in the fifth minute before Kilasonia grabbed the first of his two goals after 35 minutes. Kilasonia netted from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute and Imamiar Suleimanov, another debutant, capped a fine win with the fourth four minutes from time.

Baku struggling
Elsewhere, second-from bottom FC OMIK Baku continued their struggles, going down 1-0 at home to FC Karabakh-Azersun thanks to Russian striker Dmitri Kudinov's 35th-minute close-range strike. The match between FC Shahdag Qusar and FC Khazar Universiteti was postponed.