The Swedish national team, which is already out of the European Championship finals in Germany in 2024, faced Azerbaijan, which is in 120th place in the Fifa world ranking, away in the European Championship qualifiers on Thursday evening. It was national team captain Janne Andersson’s penultimate international match.
Andersson hoped for victory in his last away game with Blågult, but it was not a fun start for the Swedish national team at the Tofiq Bähramov Stadium.
Blågult already found themselves at a disadvantage in the third minute, when captain Victor Nilsson Lindelöf lost the ball outside his own penalty area, before Emin Makhmudov stayed in front and put the ball into the net for the home team. And it would get worse.
Called offside
Just three minutes later, Renat Dadasov made it 2-0 after a play in the penalty area. Several Blågult players called for offside, but the goal stood after VAR review.
At the same time, Sweden tried offensively and in the 28th minute was close to a reduction goal after a corner. It was pinball in front of the goal, but without Swedish celebration. Sweden did not create much more and then went into the break with a two-goal deficit in Baku.
At the start of the second half, Viktor Gyökeres ran into a good position, and came close to getting clear in front of goal, but was brought down by Bahlul Mustafazade just outside the penalty area. Sweden thus received a free kick, while Mustafazade received a red card and was forced to step off.
Emil Forsberg was close to taking advantage of the free kick, but home keeper Shakhrudin Magomedalijev steered the ball into the crossbar. Sweden then had a lot of the ball, but without getting really dangerous scoring chances.
Extinguished hope
Instead, Azerbaijan extended the lead in the 89th minute through Emin Makhmudov, who made it two goals with a finish from a position a few meters into the attacking half. Robin Olsen was a bit outside his own penalty area, and simply did not manage to save the finish.
Sweden eventually fell 3-0, and will next face Estonia at home on Sunday at Friends Arena in the European Championship qualifier. It is Janne Andersson’s last international match with the national team.