An 83rd-minute goal from Azeri substitute Emin Imamaliev settled the match and dented the qualification hopes of the Finns in a competitive Group A.

Azerbaijan created the first real chance of the match in the 13th minute when Vugar Nadyrov forced a save from Jussi Jaaskelainen from the edge of the area,

At the other end, Jonatan Johansson fired wide from a similar range.

Jaaskelainen was soon in action again as he pawed away a header from Branimir Subashic who had connected with an Ernani Pereira cross.

Azerbaijan custodian Farhad Veliyev had to be alert to parry a shot from Alexei Eremenko after 26 minutes.

Eremenko was wide with another effort as Finland started to take control in the minutes before the interval.

But just before the break the Azeris went close again with an attempt by Nadyrov which missed to the left of the goal.

The score was still goalless at the interval.

The early stages of the second period were cagey.

After 66 minutes, it was Imamaliev who went close for the Azeris when he missed from outside the area.

Finland's Mika Vayrynen was caught offside by Italian referee Domenico Messina in a brave counter-attack by the visitors.

After 79 minutes Finland came close to opening the scoring when Johansson tried his luck from the edge of the area but his shot was blocked by Pereira.

Goalkeeper Veliyev did well to field a Jari Litmanen free-kick as Finland's players queued up to connect with it.

But at the other end Sami Hyypia did well to block Alkeksandr Chertoganov's shot.

Then came the moment of truth when Imamaliev found the net with his left foot after Nadyrov had worked the ball to him following a Murad Agakishiev corner.

Azerbaijan could even have added to their score but Jaaskelainen did well to save from Subashic and Ilgar Gurbanov, while Shefki Kuqi missed with a header for Finland at the death.