Thursday, 25 June 2020

Belarus Football – Week 15


June 26, 27 & 28, 2020
Some big matches in Belarus this weekend. Traditionally, BATE vs Dinamo Minsk is the match between the two biggest clubs in the country, the closest there is to an "El Clasico", even if Dinamo Brest are now better supported, and Shakhtyor Soligorsk have been more successful recently than Dinamo Minsk. 

Neman vs Dinamo Brest features two in-form teams who have moved to the fringes of the title race. Elsewher, Shakhtyor need to put the disappointment of failing to beat Rukh at home by overcoming an FK Minsk team now in need of points to move out of the relegation play-off place

Energetik BGU Minsk  vs FK Slavia Mozyr  ( Friday at 15.00 UK time )
Two entertaining sides, with Energetik not having drawn at home and Slavia not have drawn away so a positive outcome is likely. 2-1
Result : 5-0. Energetik will probably never have an easier win than this, scoring four times in the second half after being reduced to 10 men after a straight red to Bakic in the 26th minute. Yakhshiboev took the plaudits with two goals and two assists, substitute Vasili Sovpel also scored twice. Slavia were terrible and after a promising start to the season look to be facing a relegation battle. 
FK Smolevichy STI  vs FK Slutsk ( Friday at 17.00 UK time ) 
Virtually a must win game for Smolevichy who need to convert their good play into points. Out of sorts Slutsk are ideal opposition. 2-1
Result : 2-1. Slutsk's slump continues and frankly, they were flattered by the scoreline as Smolevichy squandered a host of chances, with Mukhamedov who could have scored six, particularly guilty. However, Alexsandr Dzhigero's brace secured the much needed three points as Smolevichy played their first match of the season in Smolevichy. Slutsk nearly grabbed an underserved point at the end, but Koroev's curling shot came back of the post.
Neman Grodno vs Dinamo Brest ( Saturday at 16.30 UK time )
The tie of the round. Neman have won 5 matches on the trot whilst Dinamo have 4 successive wins. Should be high scoring. 2-2
 Result : 1-0. Neman deservedly won the "Derby Of The West" in a boisterous encounter. Neman were contraversially awarded a penalty for handball early on when the ball clearly hit the Dinamo defender's chest, but after much protesting and eventual consultation with the linesman, the correct decision of a corner was finally made. However, Dinamo's relief didn't last long as Zabelin bundled the ball over the line in the 17th minute to give Neman the lead they held onto for their 6th consecutive victory.

FK Minsk vs Shakhtyor Soligorsk ( Saturday at 14.30 UK time )
Shakhtyor need to improve their scoring conversion rate, and Minsk’s leaky defence offers a good opportunity. 0-2
Result : 1-1. Shakhtyor again dropped points after dominating but failing to convert possession into goals. They clearly missed the suspended Kerdych and Szoke, and Lisakovich turned in another shockingly selfish performance. After Diasamidze gave Shakhtyor the lead in the 55th minute it looked like they had just done enough to take the three points, but Vasilyev was left alone at the far post to tap in the equaliser 10 minutes later. Shakhtyor derserved no more than this.
 
BATE Borisov vs Dinamo Minsk  ( Saturday at 18.30 UK time )
Although Dinamo have some signs of improvement recently, a visit to BATE will probably be too much of challenge for them at the moment. 2-0
Result : 0-2. Not many people would have seen this coming. Dinamo defended doggedly and counter attacked at pace, and two goals in two minutes midway through the second half gave them a deserved victory, which could have been greater as BATE fell apart at the end. Shikavka's stunning header gave Dinamo the lead then Volkov rolled a rebound into the empty net. Stuttering BATE now have only one win in their last 4 matches.
Torpedo BelAZ Zhodino vs FK Vitebsk ( Sunday at 14.00 UK time )
Two organised sides who give little away defensively. Torpedo have been strong at home. 1-0
Result : 1-0. A low bouncing shot from Ramos that creeped into the corner of the goal in the 68th minutes was enough to decide this close, tight encounter of few chances. Carioca hit the bar in the first half for Vitebsk.
Rukh Brest vs Belshina Bobruisk ( Sunday at 16.00 UK time )
Depleted Rukh were impressive at Shakhtyor last week and Belshina look doomed. 2-0
Result : 3-0. Rampant Rukh scored three first half goals and then declared. Diallo scored again before going off injured. Oreshkevich and Vasiliev also netted for Rukh, and Bogomolskiy was a handful down the right. Belshina played like a side that know they are going down.
FK Gorodeya vs FK Isloch Minsk ( Sunday at 18.00 UK time )
Isloch are yet to earn a point outside of Minsk and their travel sickness could continue against a battling Gorodeya side. 1-0
Result : 0-2. A piledriver from Makas in the 3rd minute and a solo goal from Yansane running three-quarters the length of the pitch in the 53rd minute gave Isloch a surprisingly comfortable victory of a lacklustre Gorodeya side, who will be in trouble if they continue to perform like this

Summary :

Energetik BGU Minsk 5-0 Slavia Mozyr ( att : 200 )
FK Smolevichy STI 2-1 FK Slutsk ( att : 259 )
Neman Grodno 1-0 Dinamo Brest ( att : 2,100 )
FK Minsk 1-1 Shakhtyor Soligorsk ( att : 385 )
BATE Borisov 0-2 Dinamo Minsk ( att : 4,280 )
Torpedo BelAZ Zhodino 1-0 FK Vitebsk ( att : 535 )
Rukh Brest 3-0 Belshina Bobruisk ( att : 662 )
FK Gorodeya 0-2 FK Isloch Minsk ( att : 723 )

Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO36xSzZS5U

Comments :
Despite only drawing Shakhtyor closed the gap with BATE to three points after BATE's unexpected home loss to Dinamo Minsk. Neman made a big statement to move into third place four points off the lead but with a game in hand. Wins for Energetik and Torpedo keep them in the picture, both also have 26 points but have played a game more than Neman. Despite their terrible start to the season, Dinamo Minsk are now only 7 points off the lead.

At the bottom, Smolevichy's victory closes the gap to FK Minsk to 4 points and Gorodeya to 5 points. Belshina need snookers.......

19 goals scored this week, with zero penalties and just 1 straight red card. BATE vs Dinamo Minsk saw the highest attendance of the season so far.






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