Perfect Poland lead through Azerbaijan
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Article summary
Poland made the most of home advantage to win UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualifying Group 8 with three victories and four unanswered goals and will be joined in the Elite round by Azerbaijan.
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Azerbaijan relief
Going into the final day, Poland knew they were through but Azerbaijan were aware that a loss to the leaders would allow Montenegro to pip them on goal difference by beating Bulgaria. Poland duly won 2-0 with goals from Jarosław Krzak and Michał Jonczyk, but Montenegro conceded early in both halves to a Dimitar Blagov penalty and Iliyan Kapitanov strike and although Okica Karadžić pulled one back, Bulgaria held on to win 2-1 and pick up their only points.
Joncyzk winner
Montenegro also suffered a defeat on Matchday 1, Joncyzk striking the only goal on 54 minutes for Poland and Nemanja Mijušković receiving a late red card after a second booking. Azerbaijan were level at 0-0 midway through their game against Bulgaria but then Magomed Kurbanov struck twice, either side of an Aaraz Abdullayev goal, meaning Ivan Goranov's late effort was only a consolation.
Montenegro denied
Michal Elfir gave Poland a 1-0 win two days later against Bulgaria, who like Montenegro suffered a late red card for Ivan Zhechev. That was enough to secure Poland's progress as Azerbaijan drew 2-2 with Montenegro. Azerbaijan's 14th-minute lead through Tarlan Guliyev was quickly cancelled out by Karadžić and Sava Gardašević but Montenegro were denied victory just past the hour by Kurbanov.