Turan Delivers Dominant Road Victory Over Araz-Naxçıvan PFK

SUMQAYIT, Azerbaijan (Interstat) — Turan opened its Premyer Liqa campaign with a commanding 3-0 victory over Araz-Naxçıvan PFK on Friday, defying pregame projections with a late offensive surge at SOCAR Polymer Arena.

The match, played before a subdued crowd of home supporters, was a tightly contested defensive battle for more than an hour before unraveling completely for the hosts in the final twenty minutes. The result immediately separated the two sides in the early Azerbaijani top-flight table.

Turan, which entered the match with a 54.7 percent probability to win according to Interstat’s ELO system, struggled to break down a resolute Araz-Naxçıvan defense for much of the evening. The game’s pivotal moment arrived in the 71st minute when forward Ibrahima Wadji finally breached the goal, providing the visitors with a crucial lead.

Rather than consolidate, Turan pressed its advantage. Striker Jo doubled the lead just eleven minutes later, scoring in the 82nd minute to effectively seal the result. He then punctuated the performance with a second goal in the second minute of stoppage time, securing a 3-0 scoreline that exceeded Interstat’s pregame simulation, which had projected a 2-1 Turan win.

The comprehensive shutout provides a stark contrast to the teams’ nascent season records. Turan begins its Premyer Liqa season with a victory, moving to 1-0 in the competition and across all competitions. For Araz-Naxçıvan PFK, the loss marks an 0-1 start both in the league and overall.

The match was administered by the Premyer Liqa, Azerbaijan’s primary football competition. The fixture was held at the SOCAR Polymer Arena in Sumqayit, a neutral venue, as Araz-Naxçıvan PFK does not have a home stadium in its namesake exclave.

Turan’s ability to translate sustained pressure into a flurry of late goals will provide significant momentum as the season progresses. For Araz-Naxçıvan, the collapse after a solid initial defensive performance raises immediate questions, with the team needing to find offensive answers after failing to score in its opener. Both teams continue their league schedules next week.