Torpedo Kutaisi
Zira’s Clinical Masterclass Leaves Torpedo Kutaisi Reeling
Zira delivered a brutal 3-0 away demolition of Torpedo Kutaisi in the UEFA Europa Conference League first qualifying round, turning the Ramaz Shengelia Stadium into a morgue with Erjan Aydin’s brace and a Seydiyev strike exposing Georgian football’s fragility.
First Half Horror Show for Torpedo
The hosts’ European dreams began unravelling in the 25th minute when Burkina Faso international Boubacar Konate sliced open Kutaisi’s defence, squaring for Turkish forward Aydin to slot home his first continental goal for Zira. The Azerbaijani side doubled their lead before half-time through a devastating counter – Brazilian playmaker Martins Junior feeding Azeri midfielder Seydiyev, who curled a beauty beyond the stranded Stamatov.
Torpedo’s Desperate Changes Fail to Spark Revival
Kutaisi’s triple substitution at half-time screamed panic, but Zira’s veteran Portuguese defender Vieirinha marshalled a backline that snuffed out every attack. The visitors’ yellow card for Vieirinha on 55 minutes briefly raised home hopes, only for Aydin to kill the tie on 70 minutes – another Martins Junior assist allowing the Turk to rifle home his second.
What This Means for Both Sides
For Zira, this ruthless display announces their European credentials ahead of the second leg in Baku – Martins Junior’s two assists proving why he’s their creative heartbeat. Torpedo Kutaisi face humiliation in Georgia after failing to register a single shot on target, their manager’s job now hanging by a thread after this abject surrender.
Key Moments
25′ ⚽ Zira — E. Aydin (assist: B. Konate)
39′ ⚽ Zira — A. Seydiyev (assist: Martins Junior)
70′ ⚽ Zira — E. Aydin (assist: Martins Junior)🔮 Before kick-off: our match preview & prediction.
