July 3, 4 & 5 2020
This week sees the return fixtures from the first
week of the season, with a chance for BATE to avenge their surprise defeat in
the opening match of the season at Energetik. Shakhtyor, Neman and Dinamo Minsk
will also be looking to get revenge for their opening day defeats and Dinamo
Brest will be expecting to improve on their draw with Smolevichy.
FK Slavia Mozyr vs FK Slutsk ( Friday at 15.00 UK
time )
The reverse fixture was a match of 5 penalties, and
despite missing two of them, Slutsk’s victory gave them high hopes for the
season. Both sides are now in a slump and both were terrible last week so are
probably grateful to be playing each other. 1-1
Result : 3-1. A game of two halves but for unusual reasons. Starting in good conditions, Slavia took advantage of poor defending to race into a 2-0 lead after 12 minutes, both goals by Maxsim Sliusar. Slavia then returned the favour as the rain started to fall, with a dreadful goalkeeper error for 2-1 at the break, although Slavia should have been much further ahead. The heavens opened at half-time and continued for most of the rest of the match, rendering conditions unplayable, although abandonment never seemed to cross the referre's mind. The pitch was ideal for bringing on a sub or for diving, or for Torpedo ! Fortunately there was no water break called for. The conditions contributed to the final goal of the match, normally the ball would have run out of play, but stopped in a puddle allowing Shevchenko to shoot home.
Result : 3-1. A game of two halves but for unusual reasons. Starting in good conditions, Slavia took advantage of poor defending to race into a 2-0 lead after 12 minutes, both goals by Maxsim Sliusar. Slavia then returned the favour as the rain started to fall, with a dreadful goalkeeper error for 2-1 at the break, although Slavia should have been much further ahead. The heavens opened at half-time and continued for most of the rest of the match, rendering conditions unplayable, although abandonment never seemed to cross the referre's mind. The pitch was ideal for bringing on a sub or for diving, or for Torpedo ! Fortunately there was no water break called for. The conditions contributed to the final goal of the match, normally the ball would have run out of play, but stopped in a puddle allowing Shevchenko to shoot home.
FK Smolevichy STI
vs Dinamo Brest ( Friday at 17.00 UK time )
A big task for improving Smolevichy but they did
get a deserved 1-1 draw in Brest. Dinamo are rumoured to have some players missing with the virus so possibly a great chance for Smolevichy ? 1-1 ?
Result : 3-3. Dinamo showed 7 players missing from last week's squad, all believed to be suspected of having the virus. With an appeal for a postponement rejected their starting XI still looked strong, but their bench was nearly all Youth Academy players. However, they started the match strongly and deservedly led 2-0 at half-time. Smolevichy looked a different side after the break and when Butarevich fired home from 25+ yards a turnaround victory looked likely. Dinamo immediately won a penalty to equalize, and neither side could find a winner in an end-to-end finish.
Result : 3-3. Dinamo showed 7 players missing from last week's squad, all believed to be suspected of having the virus. With an appeal for a postponement rejected their starting XI still looked strong, but their bench was nearly all Youth Academy players. However, they started the match strongly and deservedly led 2-0 at half-time. Smolevichy looked a different side after the break and when Butarevich fired home from 25+ yards a turnaround victory looked likely. Dinamo immediately won a penalty to equalize, and neither side could find a winner in an end-to-end finish.
BATE Borisov vs Energetik BGU Minsk ( Saturday at 14.00
UK time )
Energetik go into this match on the back of 5-0 win
last week and in the knowledge they have the beating of BATE, who lost their
unbeaten home record last week. However, they are unlikely to lose two home
matches in a row. 1-1
Result : 0-1. BATE lost at home for the second week running after this lack-lustre display. Things seemed to be going their way when a 20th minute penalty was awared in their favour and the unfortunate Svirepa was shown the red card. However, the normally reliable Drahun saw his spot kick saved and two minutes later Umarov's 35 yard free-kick gave Energetik the lead, although questions have to be asked about the one-man wall and the goalkeeper's positioning. BATE didn't learn the lesson as a couple minutes another Umarov free-kick crashed against the post but fortunately for BATE rebounded to safety. BATE's missed a couple of headers and some half chances from their second half aerial bombardment, and on another day may have won comfortably. However, Energetik held on to become the first side to record a double over BATE since Shakhtyor in 2004
Result : 0-1. BATE lost at home for the second week running after this lack-lustre display. Things seemed to be going their way when a 20th minute penalty was awared in their favour and the unfortunate Svirepa was shown the red card. However, the normally reliable Drahun saw his spot kick saved and two minutes later Umarov's 35 yard free-kick gave Energetik the lead, although questions have to be asked about the one-man wall and the goalkeeper's positioning. BATE didn't learn the lesson as a couple minutes another Umarov free-kick crashed against the post but fortunately for BATE rebounded to safety. BATE's missed a couple of headers and some half chances from their second half aerial bombardment, and on another day may have won comfortably. However, Energetik held on to become the first side to record a double over BATE since Shakhtyor in 2004
FK Gorodeya vs FK Vitebsk ( Saturday at 16.00 UK
time )
Gorodeya have lost 4 in 5 compared to Vitebsk
losing for the first time in 8 games last week. 0-1
Result : 2-2. Arkihpov's scrambled 87th minute equaliser gave Gorodeya a deserved draw after Moldovan goal machine Nicolaescu and Carioca's goals looked to have given Vitebsk victory in an entertaining game.
Result : 2-2. Arkihpov's scrambled 87th minute equaliser gave Gorodeya a deserved draw after Moldovan goal machine Nicolaescu and Carioca's goals looked to have given Vitebsk victory in an entertaining game.
Neman Grodno vs vs FK Isloch Minsk ( Saturday at 18.00
UK time )
The reverse fixture was the first ever Belarus
match I watched, with Isloch grabbing a late winner after enchanting with their
accordion player ! Neman lost that time, but with 6 consecutive wins under
their belt they should continue their good run. 3-1
Result : 1-0. Neman notched up their 7th consecutive win with this unconvincing win after an 89th minute winner from Marusic. Isloch keeper Khatkevich spoilt an otherwise solid performance by unnecessarily going well outside of his area but was beaten to the ball, and Marusic stayed cool to steer home from a tight angle.
Result : 1-0. Neman notched up their 7th consecutive win with this unconvincing win after an 89th minute winner from Marusic. Isloch keeper Khatkevich spoilt an otherwise solid performance by unnecessarily going well outside of his area but was beaten to the ball, and Marusic stayed cool to steer home from a tight angle.
FK Minsk vs Belshina Bobruisk ( Sunday at 14.00 UK
time )
Minsk need a win to move out of the relegation
play-off position so a visit from rock-bottom Belshina is opportune. 2-0
Result : 2-2. Minsk missed a big chance to move clear of the play-off place when Nivaldo poked home 2 minutes from time to equalise for Belshina and for his first goal of the season. Minsk were awarded two penalties in the first half, but Vasyliev only converted the second one. Both sides were guilty of missing easy chances in the second half, perhaps indicating why they are both in the bottom three.
Result : 2-2. Minsk missed a big chance to move clear of the play-off place when Nivaldo poked home 2 minutes from time to equalise for Belshina and for his first goal of the season. Minsk were awarded two penalties in the first half, but Vasyliev only converted the second one. Both sides were guilty of missing easy chances in the second half, perhaps indicating why they are both in the bottom three.
Torpedo BelAZ Zhodino vs Shakhtyor Soligorsk ( Sunday at 16.00 UK
time )
Two of the better defences in the league, and with
Torpedo having gained 16 points from 21 home games, Shakhtyor face a big
challenge. 0-0
Result : 1-4. Two breakaway goals in the last 10 minutes gave a flattering look to the scoreline after Torpedo were pressing for an equaliser. Lisakovich scored twice for Shakhtyor, this time the showboating not wasting a goal, beating two defenders instead of putting into the back of the net at the first opportunity. The outcome might have been different if Shakhtyor keeper Gutor been shown red rather than yellow when bringing down Ramos between the halfway line and the penalty box.
Result : 1-4. Two breakaway goals in the last 10 minutes gave a flattering look to the scoreline after Torpedo were pressing for an equaliser. Lisakovich scored twice for Shakhtyor, this time the showboating not wasting a goal, beating two defenders instead of putting into the back of the net at the first opportunity. The outcome might have been different if Shakhtyor keeper Gutor been shown red rather than yellow when bringing down Ramos between the halfway line and the penalty box.
Rukh Brest vs Dinamo Minsk ( Sunday at 18.00 UK time )
A tough one to call after Dinamo’s surprising but
well earned victory at BATE and with the second and third best defences on show. Rukh have the most draws in the league. 1-1
Summary :