Belarus Football – Week 7

May 1, 2 & 3, 2020

After the excitment of the mid-week Cup Semi-Finals including Shakhtyor coming back from 0-4 on aggregate against Dinamo Brest, only to go out on away goals, it is back to the bread and butter of week 7 of the Belarus Premier League. Many of the fixtures are too close to call.....

FK Smolevichy vs STI Energetik BGU Minsk ( Friday 14.00 UK time ) 

After six games Smolevechi are still without a win, but they have proven difficult to beat. After winning their first three matches, Energetik BGU have since lost three on the trot without scoring. Likely to be close, 1-1 ?

Result : 0-2. Energetik eased to victory to end their losing run. After a smart finish from Davie Tweh gave them an early lead, Smolevichy rarely threatened. Two second yellow card in the last five minutes reduced both sides to ten men, and Yakhsiboev's injury time penalty after he had be brought down sealed the win.

FK Minsk vs Torpedo BelAZ Zhodino ( Saturday 12.00 UK time )

Another close game in prospect, Torpedo have only conceded two goals so far, but their six matches to-date have featured only 6 goals. On the other hand there has been an average of over 3 goals per game for matches involving FK Minsk. Torpedo's defence will be hard to breach though. 1-1

Result : 2-5. Wow, where did that come from ?? In a game played on the grass pitch at the Traktor Stadium rather than FK’s artificial pitch, Torpedo unleashed an unstoppable pass and move tactic to which FK Minsk had no answer. Gorbachik netted a hat-trick but Brazilian Gabriel Ramos was the outstanding player. Torpedo now look serious title contenders.

   

Rukh Brest vs FK Gorodeya ( Saturday at 14.00 UK time )

A match-up between the masters of the 1-0 and a side where only a total of 4 goals have been scored in 6 matches. One to avoid, 0-0 !

Result : 1-1. After Sorokin's neat finish following a flap at a cross by the Rukh keeper, it looked like Gorodeya would ground out another 1-0 win, especially after Rukh mysteriously had what seemed to be a perfectly good equaliser with five minutes left disallowed. An injury time scramble from a corner couldn’t be denied though.

 

Dinamo Minsk vs FK Slutsk ( Saturday at 16.00 UK time ) 

Dinamo have looked strong at home, Slutsk are top and their matches have produced the most goals in the league. Potentially the most attractive match of the weekend, Dinamo's good form to continue, 2-1.

Result : 1-2. League-leaders Slutsk were long-odds to win in the Dinamo Stadium, but an assured performance enhanced their credibility as Championship contenders. Salou's stunning 30 yard piledriver and Gafar's cute back heel rocked the home side. Dinamo missed a first half penalty but Brucic's late strike gave Slutsk a nervous last five minutes.

Belshina Bobruisk vs Dinamo Brest ( Sunday at 12.00 UK time ) 

Bottom placed Belshina have looked better than the table shows but will fancy their chances against the wobbling Champions who lie in a scarely believable third from bottom. Should be watchable, 1-2

Result : 0-3. Dinamo Brest chalk-up a much needed victory in a routine win. Belshina starting to look doomed.

FK Vitebsk vs FK Slavia Mozyr ( Sunday at 14.00 UK time ) 

Slavia will be looking to bounce back from the disappointment of their cup exit despite a spirited display at BATE. Their leaky defensive should fare better against gun-shy Vitebsk but another close encounter is in prospect. 1-1 

Result : 2-3. After a dull first half the match exploded into life in the second half. Vitebsk looked to have done enough to get the three points, but Slavia equalised four minutes from time ( it looked to have crossed the line twice but the third attempt made certain ! ) and then Slavia's second penalty of the match gave them the victory.

BATE Borisov vs Neman Grodno ( Sunday at 16.00 UK time )

BATE's Championship challenge is gathering momentum going four games unbeaten and without conceeding a game. They should see off a game but limited Neman side. 2-0 

Result : 3-1. BATE's march up the table continues with an impressive win over a battling Neman side, the highlight being the sweeping move for their third goal, scored by Nekhaychik.

Shakhtyor Soligorsk vs FK Isloch Minsk ( Sunday 18.00 UK time ) 

Isloch either win or lose, and with Shakhtyor finally finding their shooting boots in their two matches against Dinamo Brest in the past week, a home win should be on the cards. 3-1

Result : 4-0. Shakhtyor's goal drought is well and truely over ! The score flats the home side a little as Isloch deserved at least a consolation goal.

Summary :

FK Smolevichy STI 0-2 Energetik BGU Minsk ( att : 115 )
FK Minsk 2-5 Torpedo BelAZ Zhodino ( att : 173 )

Rukh Brest 1-1 FK Gorodeya ( att : 323 )

Dinamo Minsk 1-2 FK Slutsk ( att : 362 )

Belshina Bobruisk 0-3 Dinamo Brest ( att : 1,374 )
FK Vitebsk 2-3 FK Slavia Mozyr ( att : 408 )
BATE Borisov 3-1 Neman Grodno ( att : 1,000 )
Shakhtyor Soligorsk 4-0 FK Isloch Minsk ( att : 480 )

Dinamo Minsk On-line Programme : https://vk.com/doc15192585_548096288?hash=b923c5dfd72bae9cf1&dl=e34e47986c3dc23b3c

Highlights : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGhQdf5puwA


Comment :
Another weekend with goals a plenty ! With 30 goals this weekend, the dull days of just 13 in week 5 are a distant memory. Also, there were just two red card, both for two yellows, and both in the last 10 minutes of the Smolevichy vs Energetik BGU match.

Slutsk continue to lead the table, with Torpedo in pursuit. BATE lurk menacingly in third place and are now odds on favourite with the bookies to win the league.

Shakhtyor and Dinamo Brest move into the top half of the table, whilst at the bottom it is already looking bleak for Smolevichy and Belshina.