Socar Spor edged Cayirova Belediyesi 71-67 in a tightly contested Club Friendship encounter on Saturday evening, holding on down the stretch to secure a four-point win. The match, which tipped off at 19:45 on 5 September 2026, provided an entertaining back-and-forth atmosphere as both sides looked to build momentum inside this competitive club competition.

Match story: a battle of runs

Socar Spor started brightly, using a quick transition game to take an early cushion. Their full-court pressure forced Cayirova Belediyesi into uncomfortable possessions, allowing the home side to dictate tempo for much of the opening period. Cayirova responded well, tightening their half-court defense and trimming the arrears before the break.

The third quarter brought the most intense stretch of the contest. Cayirova Belediyesi found rhythm from the perimeter and briefly grabbed the lead, capitalizing on several second-chance opportunities. Socar Spor answered with a determined inside presence, grinding out points at the free-throw line and regaining control in the final minutes.

Decisive moments

• A decisive late run: With the score close in the closing minutes, Socar Spor produced a 7-0 burst that proved enough to keep Cayirova at arm's length.
• Free-throw composure: The home side converted vital attempts from the charity stripe in the final minute, protecting their slender advantage.
• Defensive stops: Cayirova Belediyesi could not find an open look on their final possession, and Socar Spor closed out the defensive rebound to seal the result.

Key takeaways

Socar Spor will take confidence from their ability win a close game while staying disciplined under pressure. Cayirova Belediyesi, meanwhile, showed that they can challenge quality opposition with a balanced scoring effort and will look to correct their late-game execution in their next fixture.

With the Club Friendship campaign continuing to take shape, this result gives Socar Spor an early statement victory while Cayirova Belediyesi will view the tight margin as proof that they are not far from turning competitive performances into wins.