Led by two-time world silver medallist Saman Tahmasebi, the nation that finished third last year won all three of their Group A encounters at the Azadi Sport Complex, including a shock 6-2 success against hosts and winners of four of the last five World Cups, Iran.

The defending champions were without four of their biggest stars, including London 2012 Olympic gold medallists Hamid Soryan, Omid Noroozi and Ghasem Rezaei, but it was still a major coup for the Azerbaijanis who held their nerve in some closely fought matches and rarely gave up extra points.

Having suffered an 8-0 defeat to Iran in the group stage of the 2014 World Cup, condemning them to a place in the third-place play-off, the win was all the more sweeter for Azerbaijan coach Jamshid Hheyrabadi.

"We took a bad loss to Iran in last year's World Cup and we were hoping to avenge it here," he said. 

"We were in training camp for three months studying their technique and there is no question the loss of championship wrestlers influenced their performance."

Azerbaijan went on to record 7-1 wins against Germany and Sweden to set up tomorrow's final against Russia, who cruised past their Group B opponents.

Russia beat Armenia as well as Hungary and Turkey in Group B
©Borna Ghasemi, United World Wrestling

Victories against Hungary by 5-3, Turkey 6-2 and Armenia 7-1 gives the 2013 champions, headed by London 2012 Olympic champion Roman Vlasov and world champion Chingiz Labazanov, the opportunity to regain the title they lost to Iran last year. 

"There was no difference to us if we met Iran or Azerbaijan in the final," said Russian head coach Gogi Koguashvili.

"We are here to win the World Cup no matter who our opponent."

The most notable individual win of the day was arguably Turkey's Reza Kayaalp, who got the better of 2014 junior world champion Sergey Semenov of Russia.

Although his country lost 6-2 to their Russian counterparts, Kayaalp's immense pressure and consistent offence saw him come from 4-0 behind early in the first to win 7-4.

Prior to tomorrow's final, Germany face Armenia in the seventh-place play-off, before Hungary meet Sweden in the battle for fifth spot, and Turkey go up against Iran for the right to finish third.

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