Azerbaijan vs France: France Rally to a 3–1 Victory in Qualifier

France showed their depth and composure in a tough road trip, coming from behind to beat Azerbaijan 3–1 in a 2026 World Cup qualifying match. Azerbaijan drew first blood with an early goal, but Les Bleus responded strongly, showcasing their attacking quality and squad strength. The match was a reminder that even in rotation, France can impose their quality — while Azerbaijan demonstrated grit and moments of promise.

In this article, we break down how France turned the game around, highlight key statistics and performances, walk through the notable moments, and discuss what this result means for both teams going forward.

Date: November 16, 2025

Kick-off: ~17:00 GMT (local time in Baku) SI+1

Venue: Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan

Competition: 2026 FIFA World Cup — UEFA Qualifying, Group D

Final Score

Azerbaijan 1 – 3 France

Scorers:
- Azerbaijan: Renat Dadashov (4′)
- France: Jean-Philippe Mateta (17′), Maghnes Akliouche (approx. 30′)
- France (own goal): Shahrudin Mahammadaliyev

Match Overview

Azerbaijan stunned the home crowd early, scoring in just the 4th minute when Renat Dadashov converted from a cross to put the hosts ahead. The early strike gave Azerbaijan belief and forced France to respond.

France, though, regrouped quickly. Malo Gusto was influential on the right flank, and he played a key role in the equalizer. His cross met Jean-Philippe Mateta, who rose well to head home and level the score.

Shortly after, France took the lead. A dangerous move developed down the right, and Maghnes Akliouche was on hand to tap the ball in after a precise delivery. Sports Mole Just before halftime, Azerbaijan’s goalkeeper Shahrudin Mahammadaliyev misjudged a cross, and in attempting to correct it, deflected the ball into his own net, giving France a 3–1 lead going into the break. Sports Mole

In the second half, France managed the game well. They maintained control, limited Azerbaijan’s chances, and secured the win. Despite France rotating some players, their class showed — especially in critical moments.

Azerbaijan, while disappointed, showed fight. Their early goal was a sign they hadn’t come just to defend, but they couldn’t sustain the intensity or handle France’s pressure when it mattered most.

Key Statistics

Statistic	Azerbaijan	France
Possession	~26%	~74%
Shots	2	17
Corners	1	8

Player Ratings

Player	Team	Rating /10	Key Notes
Malo Gusto	France	8.0	Very influential on the right, provided the cross for Mateta’s goal.
Jean-Philippe Mateta	France	7.5	Scored the equalizer with a good header.
Maghnes Akliouche	France	7.7	Scored the second goal with good positioning.
Shahrudin Mahammadaliyev	Azerbaijan	5.5	Made a big error for the own goal, but also made some saves earlier.
Renat Dadashov	Azerbaijan	6.5	Scored a shock early goal, showed movement, but was overpowered later.

Timeline of Key Events

4′ — Goal (Azerbaijan): Renat Dadashov opens the scoring from a cross.
17′ — Goal (France): Mateta heads in from Gusto’s cross to equalize.
~30′ — Goal (France): Akliouche taps in after a good delivery.
~45′ — Own Goal (France): Mahammadaliyev deflects a corner/cross into his own net.
46′–90′ — France control the second half comfortably, Azerbaijan struggles to respond.

What This Means

For France, the win underlines the strength of their squad depth. Even with rotation, they were able to respond to an early setback, dominate possession, and finish strongly. This result helps them maintain momentum in their qualifying campaign and shows that they can rely on a broader group of players, not just the usual starters.

For Azerbaijan, the early goal was a promising sign, but the collapse after going ahead will be disappointing. The defensive mistake for the own goal was costly, and while their ambition is clear, they still lack the consistency and composure needed to compete with top European sides. This match highlights where they need to improve: defensive organization, set-piece defending, and maintaining pressure throughout the game.

In the wider picture of Group D, France’s comeback secures a valuable win. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan may need to regroup and focus on building resilience and tactical discipline if they want to challenge in subsequent qualifiers.

Conclusion

France’s 3–1 victory over Azerbaijan was a strong example of their quality and mentality. They overcame the early shock, clicked into gear, and used their depth to dominate. For Azerbaijan, the result is a reminder of what they can achieve, but also of the gaps that remain.

Call to Action: What do you think was the most important moment in the match? Was it Gusto’s cross, Mateta’s header, or the own goal? Let me know in the comments and feel free to share this report!

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