Şimal claimed a narrow 2-1 victory over Cəbrayıl on Thursday in the opening fixture of the Birinci Dəstə regular season. The match at the Şimal ground concluded with the visitors taking all three points despite a late fightback. By then, two goals from D. Achimi had already secured the result for the home side.
The opening chapter unfolded quickly, with Şimal seizing the initiative within the first quarter-hour. Achimi found space in the box and finished calmly at the 16-minute mark, giving the hosts an early advantage. It was the kind of opener that sets the tempo for the rest of the contest.
Cəbrayıl responded with purpose after the interval, refusing to stay behind for long. Osmanov equalised at 42 minutes, finding the back of the net with a composed strike that levelled the score. To be fair, the visitors had worked the channels well and deserved their reward for persistence.
What followed was a match that swung back in Şimal's favour at the crucial moment. Achimi completed his brace at 75 minutes, slotting home to restore the lead and essentially seal the victory. And here's the thing — that second goal came when the game was at its most open, and he was ready for it.
The result leaves both teams level on points at the start of the campaign. Şimal sit in eighth place while Cəbrayıl occupy seventh, though the gap between them is negligible with zero games recorded in the standings so far. Neither side has built momentum yet, and this opener serves as a fresh starting point for both.
The fixture carries weight beyond the current season's standings, given the history between these two sides. Şimal had beaten Cəbrayıl 3-2 in May, while the visitors had taken a 2-1 victory over Şimal earlier that month. This result adds another layer to a rivalry that tends to produce tight, competitive encounters.
