August 21, 22 & 23, 2020
Assuming the matches do actually go ahead this week,
even if only behind closed doors. Of course, all the comments below are based on a normal situation, but it is anything but normal at the moment..........
FK Slutsk vs Dinamo Minsk ( Friday at 14.00 UK
time )
Hardly a riveting way to start the weekend, a match perhaps best played behind closed doors anyway.....
Dinamo’s last 8 matches have only yielded 7 goals as they have crawled up the
table. Slutsk have only one win in their 13 games since their win at Dinamo but
visitors should get revenge. 0-1
Result : 1-2. A deserved win for Dinamo who created a number of good chances but showed proverbial "barn-door" finishing. Fortunately for them, two chances fell to Shikavka, one of their few bright sparks is a dismal season, who showed his team-mates how it should be done. Slutsk had taken the lead against the run of play when Sychev's mazy run released Krivulkin on the overlap, and his inviting cross gave Gafar a simple header.
Result : 1-2. A deserved win for Dinamo who created a number of good chances but showed proverbial "barn-door" finishing. Fortunately for them, two chances fell to Shikavka, one of their few bright sparks is a dismal season, who showed his team-mates how it should be done. Slutsk had taken the lead against the run of play when Sychev's mazy run released Krivulkin on the overlap, and his inviting cross gave Gafar a simple header.
FK Isloch Minsk vs Shakhtyor Soligorsk ( Friday at
16.00 UK time )
A tricky match for leaders Shakhtyor as Isloch are
on a run of three consecutive wins in which they have scored 9 goals. Shakthyor
are unbeaten away from home, but have drawn 5 times. 1-1
Result : 4-2. A tricky match indeed. Shakhtyor don't seem to like playing at the Trakor, turning in a performance even worse than their draw against FK Minsk. It was hard to believe this defence had only conceded 9 goals all season as elementary mistakes were ruthlessly punished by Isloch's clinical finishing, Yusov and Yanusz with a brace each to end their 16 match unbeaten run. It might have been different had Ivanovic taken either of two good chances when the score was 1-1, but frankly Shakhtyor didn't deserve anything from this match. Despite being played behind closed doors, Isloch's small but loyal band of supporters made plenty of noise from the hill overlooking the stadium !
Result : 4-2. A tricky match indeed. Shakhtyor don't seem to like playing at the Trakor, turning in a performance even worse than their draw against FK Minsk. It was hard to believe this defence had only conceded 9 goals all season as elementary mistakes were ruthlessly punished by Isloch's clinical finishing, Yusov and Yanusz with a brace each to end their 16 match unbeaten run. It might have been different had Ivanovic taken either of two good chances when the score was 1-1, but frankly Shakhtyor didn't deserve anything from this match. Despite being played behind closed doors, Isloch's small but loyal band of supporters made plenty of noise from the hill overlooking the stadium !
Dinamo Brest vs Belshina Bobruisk ( Friday at 18.00
UK time )
Belshina have revived their hopes of avoiding the
drop with two wins on the bounce, but to get something at Dinamo might be
asking too much despite the Champions inconsistent league form. If Dinamo repeat
their form from the Astana game in the Champions League then it could be a
thrashing. 4-1
Result : 1-2. Gosh, Belshina move out of the bottom two for what seems the first time since the dinosaurs ruled the earth ! Inspired goalkeeping from Karitonovich, desperate defending, a remarkable goal-line clearance added to a huge deflection and a predatory header from the old fox Kovel gave Belshina an unlikely win. Dinamo will consider themselves unlucky but after making 7 changes to the starting line-up against Astana they may have underestimated the visitors. Energetik BGU Minsk vs FK Smolevichy STI ( Saturday at 14.00 UK time )
With two draws Energetik seemed to have turned the
corner after their horror spell, so they should chalk up a morale boasting
victory over a Smolevichy side preparing for life at the second level next
season. 3-0
Result : 4-1. A comfortable win for Energetik who also saw two efforts cleared off the line. Bakic took the plaudits with two goals and an assist, the final goal being a chip into an unguarded net after the Smolevichy keeper had needlessly charged outside of his area. Smolevichy did fashion a nice move for Makorov's goal but were otherwise poor.
Result : 4-1. A comfortable win for Energetik who also saw two efforts cleared off the line. Bakic took the plaudits with two goals and an assist, the final goal being a chip into an unguarded net after the Smolevichy keeper had needlessly charged outside of his area. Smolevichy did fashion a nice move for Makorov's goal but were otherwise poor.
FK Gorodeya vs Rukh Brest ( Saturday at 16.00 UK
time )
Rukh’s last 5 games have featured 25 goals, but
Gorodeya have only conceded 4 in their last 4. Rukh have only lost once away from home all
season and this record should continue. 0-2
Result : 1-3. A deserved victory for Rukh who dominated large parts of this match. Grechikho's header gave Rukh an early lead, which was extended just before half-time when Nikiforenko was quickest to react to a rebound after Dovgyallo had got a hand to Vasiliev's shot. Gorodeya briefly threathened to get back into the match after Senkevich pulled one back but their hopes were extinguished when Dovgyallo tried to start a move outside of his area, lost control but then made a great sliding tackle. Unfortunately for him, Rukh took a quick throw-in and Sadovskiy chipped the ball into the empty net before the keeper could get back into position ! FK Slavia Mozyr vs FK Vitebsk ( Sunday at 14.00 UK time )
Vitebsk’s hope of sneaking into a European place
have been set-back by two losses in their last run-outs, and only one away win
also season hasn’t helped either. Slavia look good going forward but hopeless
at the back. Could be a few goals. 2-2
Result : 1-1. An enjoyable game and a fair result. Vitebsk started brightly and took an early lead when Baronovskiy could only weakly push Nicolaescu's shot to Volkov for an easy tap, and soon after Nicolaescu's rasping shot smacked against the post. Slavia equalised against the run of play on 34 minutes when Tetteh was first onto a through ball, rounded Soroko and scored from a very tight angle.
Result : 1-1. An enjoyable game and a fair result. Vitebsk started brightly and took an early lead when Baronovskiy could only weakly push Nicolaescu's shot to Volkov for an easy tap, and soon after Nicolaescu's rasping shot smacked against the post. Slavia equalised against the run of play on 34 minutes when Tetteh was first onto a through ball, rounded Soroko and scored from a very tight angle.
Torpedo BelAZ Zhodino vs FK Minsk ( Sunday at 16.00
UK time )
Minsk have had to wait to play their first match
after sacking coach Andrei Rasin but are unlikely to see the new manager bounce
at consistent Torpedo, who lie 4th in the table. 2-0
Result : 1-1. FK Minsk took an unlikely point thanks to a man-of-the-match performance from keeper Leonov, who produced a string of top saves and was only beaten thanks to a huge deflection from a shot by Ramos, who looked to have fouled a defender in the build-up. Minsk equalised a minute into the second half when Ostrukh's pinpoint cross from the by-line gave Gribovskiy a simple header. As the clock ticked by Torpedo increasing ran out of ideas.
Result : 1-1. FK Minsk took an unlikely point thanks to a man-of-the-match performance from keeper Leonov, who produced a string of top saves and was only beaten thanks to a huge deflection from a shot by Ramos, who looked to have fouled a defender in the build-up. Minsk equalised a minute into the second half when Ostrukh's pinpoint cross from the by-line gave Gribovskiy a simple header. As the clock ticked by Torpedo increasing ran out of ideas.
Neman Grodno vs BATE Borisov ( Sunday at 18.00 UK
time )
Saving the best for the end, BATE face a crucial
visit to the wall of Grodno knowing that defeat could be fatal for their hopes
of reclaiming the title. Neman are unlikely to play an expansive game so BATE
will have to try and break down a defence that conceded for the first time in 9
games last time out at Energetik. Could be 0-0, 1-0 or 0-3 !
Result : 0-2. Neman dominated the early stages of this match, with Poe in particular looking impressive. However, this dominance was not converted into goals, and Neman paid the penalty when Skavysh's fine solo run and finish gave BATE an undeserved lead at the break. BATE extended their lead in the 54th minute when Nekhaychik scored direct from a corner, and unlike other matches where BATE have thrown away leads, Neman never looked like getting back into the contest.
Result : 0-2. Neman dominated the early stages of this match, with Poe in particular looking impressive. However, this dominance was not converted into goals, and Neman paid the penalty when Skavysh's fine solo run and finish gave BATE an undeserved lead at the break. BATE extended their lead in the 54th minute when Nekhaychik scored direct from a corner, and unlike other matches where BATE have thrown away leads, Neman never looked like getting back into the contest.
Summary :