August 6, 7 & 8, 2020
An early start to the weekend
with matches moved to Thursday, Friday and Saturday due to the Presidential
elections on Sunday.
Potentially the two most interesting games are on
Thursday, with the important relegation battle between Belshina and Slutsk, and
the potential new champions meeting the current champions in Soligorsk. However all the games should be worth
watching, apart from perhaps Dinamo Minsk ( as usual ! )
Belshina Bobruisk vs FK Slutsk ( Thursday at
16.00 UK time )
Potentially the match of the round, being a must
win for Belshina if they are to maintain hopes of beating the drop, and Slutsk
will be looking to avoid defeat and arrest their freefall down the table. 2-1
Result : 4-2. This could be an important win for Belshina, moving then off bottom place for the first time in a long while. Three up after 27 minutes it could have been a lot more by the time Rekish added the fourth ( and his second ) in the 50th minute.. Slutsk were truely awful but stirred themselves to pull two back as Belshina took the foot of the pedal. A late red card for Kozlov for what appeared to be a nothing challenge could be more costly to Slutsk in terms of games to be missed through suspension, although to be frank the big balding enforcer has recently been a shadow of the player who looked so good at the start of the season.
Result : 4-2. This could be an important win for Belshina, moving then off bottom place for the first time in a long while. Three up after 27 minutes it could have been a lot more by the time Rekish added the fourth ( and his second ) in the 50th minute.. Slutsk were truely awful but stirred themselves to pull two back as Belshina took the foot of the pedal. A late red card for Kozlov for what appeared to be a nothing challenge could be more costly to Slutsk in terms of games to be missed through suspension, although to be frank the big balding enforcer has recently been a shadow of the player who looked so good at the start of the season.
Shakhtyor Soligorsk vs Dinamo Brest ( Thursday at
18.00 UK time )
This match could be a week too early for recovering
Dinamo and whilst it is unlikely to be a repeat of the cup match goal fest,
Shakhtyor should emerge victorious. 2-1
Result : 1-0. Shakhtyor produced a Neman type performance to earn another three points in a tight game which again showed that Dinamo have learnt how to defend during their enforced Covid break. Podstrelov scored the crucial goal 11 minutes from time to send the big home crowd home happy.
Result : 1-0. Shakhtyor produced a Neman type performance to earn another three points in a tight game which again showed that Dinamo have learnt how to defend during their enforced Covid break. Podstrelov scored the crucial goal 11 minutes from time to send the big home crowd home happy.
FK Vitebsk vs FK Isloch Minsk ( Friday at 16.00 UK
time )
A match-up of contrasting styles. Vitebsk are solid
and organised, Isloch are open and entertaining. Vitebsk have lost only once at
home. 2-1
Result : 2-3. Without Carioca in their line-up, Vitebsk's stealthly rise to a Europa League slot was undone in an open and entertaining match as Isloch served a reminder that they too are actually a decent side. The visitors opened the scoring as Yusov showed good skill to chest control, turn and shoot home. The Vitebsk equaliser was controversial as Matveenko appeared to kick the ball out of Khatkevich's hands but there were no protests and the goal stood. Khatkevich redeemed himself with two good saves to keep the scores level at the interval. Isloch then took control with Yanush's snap-shot giving them the lead, before a long chip almost caught out the Vitebsk keeper, who scurried back to palm the ball away. However, Yansane retreived the loose ball and picked out Makas for a simple finish. Nazarenko's scuffed 30 yarder somehow evaded everyone to bring it back to 2-3, and the match was end-to-end in the final few minutes but Isloch held on to take the points
Result : 2-3. Without Carioca in their line-up, Vitebsk's stealthly rise to a Europa League slot was undone in an open and entertaining match as Isloch served a reminder that they too are actually a decent side. The visitors opened the scoring as Yusov showed good skill to chest control, turn and shoot home. The Vitebsk equaliser was controversial as Matveenko appeared to kick the ball out of Khatkevich's hands but there were no protests and the goal stood. Khatkevich redeemed himself with two good saves to keep the scores level at the interval. Isloch then took control with Yanush's snap-shot giving them the lead, before a long chip almost caught out the Vitebsk keeper, who scurried back to palm the ball away. However, Yansane retreived the loose ball and picked out Makas for a simple finish. Nazarenko's scuffed 30 yarder somehow evaded everyone to bring it back to 2-3, and the match was end-to-end in the final few minutes but Isloch held on to take the points
Dinamo Minsk vs FK Smolevichy STI ( Friday at 18.00
UK time ) - Postponed - now Friday August 14th
Smolevichy look destined to their fate but Dinamo
are playing binary football. 1-0
FK Minsk vs FK Slavia Mozyr ( Saturday at 12.00 UK
time ) - Postponed - now Wednesday August 12th
Probably the two worst defensives in the division
so there should be plenty of goalmouth action. Having sacked coach Andrei Rasin
this week Minsk will be hoping for the new manager bounce, but they are
unlikely to repeat their win in Mozyr. 1-3
Energetik BGU Minsk
vs Neman Grodno ( Saturday at 14.00 UK time )
After the encouraging draw last week, Energetik are
up against it again against the green and yellow wall of Neman who haven’t
conceded in 8 games and are unbeaten in 11. 0-1
Result : 1-1. Energetik took a surprising but deserved point against an out of sorts Neman, who like Manchester United were perhaps disorientated by having to play in a dull grey kit ? Neman were particular poor in the first half and trailed at the break after Svirepa was left completely free to head home a corner as the defenders all looked at each other after the shock of conceding a goal. Neman improved a little in the second half and Zhukovski equalised within a minute. Neman pressed but lacked the creative spark to fashion a winner, and their day was perhaps summed up when Marusic volleyed well over from 10 yards three minutes from time when you would normally have expected to have seen the net bulging. That would have been harsh on Energetik though.
Result : 1-1. Energetik took a surprising but deserved point against an out of sorts Neman, who like Manchester United were perhaps disorientated by having to play in a dull grey kit ? Neman were particular poor in the first half and trailed at the break after Svirepa was left completely free to head home a corner as the defenders all looked at each other after the shock of conceding a goal. Neman improved a little in the second half and Zhukovski equalised within a minute. Neman pressed but lacked the creative spark to fashion a winner, and their day was perhaps summed up when Marusic volleyed well over from 10 yards three minutes from time when you would normally have expected to have seen the net bulging. That would have been harsh on Energetik though.
Rukh Brest vs Torpedo BelAZ Zhodino ( Saturday at 16.00 UK time )
Two of the leagues draw specialists and there is
little between the two sides. 1-1
Result : 3-3. A great match for the neutral with non-stop action and chances galore. Both sides showed neat one-touch pass and move football against leaden footed defenders. Greichiko, who was outstanding throughout gave Rukh the lead when his shot beat Kozlov at the near post, but immediately after Rukh needlessly gave away a penalty for Ramos to equalise. Somehow the next goal didn't arrive until the 57 minutes when Kozlov inexplicately dashed out of his area enabling Antilevski to skip past him and score from a tight angle. Torpedo missed chances to extend their lead before an incisive through ball put Shevchenko clear to equalise. Torpedo stormed back for Khachaturyan to smash home but Rukh won a penalty of their own for handball, Vasiljev sending the keeper the wrong way. Rukh came close to snatching a winner but a draw was a fair result. It could have finished 6-6 !
Result : 3-3. A great match for the neutral with non-stop action and chances galore. Both sides showed neat one-touch pass and move football against leaden footed defenders. Greichiko, who was outstanding throughout gave Rukh the lead when his shot beat Kozlov at the near post, but immediately after Rukh needlessly gave away a penalty for Ramos to equalise. Somehow the next goal didn't arrive until the 57 minutes when Kozlov inexplicately dashed out of his area enabling Antilevski to skip past him and score from a tight angle. Torpedo missed chances to extend their lead before an incisive through ball put Shevchenko clear to equalise. Torpedo stormed back for Khachaturyan to smash home but Rukh won a penalty of their own for handball, Vasiljev sending the keeper the wrong way. Rukh came close to snatching a winner but a draw was a fair result. It could have finished 6-6 !
BATE Borisov vs FK Gorodeya ( Saturday at 18.00 UK time )
BATE have struggled against teams who park the bus,
and confidence will be even lower after the capitulation at Torpedo. However,
they should still be too good for the limited Gorodeya side, shouldn’t they ?
2-0
Result : 1-0. Switched to BATE's old stadium due to an election event in the BATE Arena, this match was effectively decided in the first minute when Skavysh scored from a powerful strike. BATE could have extended the lead but Moukam's penalty was splendidly saved by Dovgyallo diving to his left. BATE dominated but rarely threatened and Dovgyallo was equal to everything thrown at him. Gorodeya were reduced to optimistic long range efforts and crosses, which should not have caused any danger, but Scherbitski in the BATE goal was far from convincing. Summary :