November 22, 2020
There are now just two rounds of matches left to be played in the Belarus Premier League so some issues may get resolved this weekend. BATE could become champions, Belshina’s relegation should be confirmed, Slutsk’s could be confirmed as the side to contest the relegation play-off, Slavia’s place in the Premier League next season should be assured, Gorodeya could also reach safety, Shakhtyor, Neman or Torpedo might confirm at least a place in the Europa Conference. Then again, nothing might get decided and there could still be everything to play for on the final day !
To ensure fairness and to avoid any hint of a “Disgrace of Gijon” all matches from now on will kick-off at the same time. This weekend it is Sunday 2pm local time ( 11am UK )
It is the final weekend in the Belarus First League, with FK Gomel needing a home win over rock bottom Khimik on Saturday to join Sputnik Rechitsa as being automatically promoted. NFK Krumkachy are likely to have to settle for the promotion play-off place
BATE Borisov vs Belshina Bobruisk
BATE could become champions with victory over Belshina and if Shakhtyor fail to win. Belshina need a miracle to avoid direct relegation, they have to win at BATE and then at home to Rukh and hope Slutsk fail to pick up a point, and Slutsk have a home game against Smolevichy still to come…. 5-0
Result : 5-0. Belshina were perhaps a little unlucky to go into half-time one down. BATE's goal came in the 40th minute when Filipovic's unsuccessful attempted flick at Moukam's corner deceived everyone for the ball to go directly into the net. However, once the ball struck Odeyobo's arm and the penalty award in the 55th minute, BATE dominated the match. Skavysh tucked away the penalty and prodded home from 7 yards a minute later for his 19th goal of the season. Nekhaychik added a 25 yard screamer and Milic a delicate chip to complete the rout, and condemn Belshina to the First League.
Rukh Brest vs Shakhtyor Soligorsk
After failing to beat BATE last time out, Shakhtyor have to win to take the title outcome to the final day ( assuming there isn’t an improbable result in Borisov ). Rukh have won only one of their last 5 home matches ( Slutsk 5-0 ) and have picked up only 17 points at home, compared to 24 on their travels. 0-1
Result : 1-2. Injury ravaged Rukh came close to upsetting Shakhtyor's apple-cart. Antic's fabulous curling free-kick gave Shakhtyor an early lead but Rukh equalized five minutes later when Sadovsky was left free to steer home Migunov's left wing cross. Shakhtyor regained the lead in the 20th minute when Arkhipov ran onto Ivanovic's lobbed through ball to flick past Stepanov. Shakhtyor were unable to put the game to bed, and were indebted to keeper Chesnovsky, in a rare start, making a fine save from Tsepenkov and then bravely diving at the feet of Morozov to deny Rukh a late equalizer.
Neman Grodno vs FK Slutsk
Neman’s last two home matches have been losses to Gorodeya and Slavia, which ended their title challenge. Slutsk ended a run of 9 consecutive away defeats with a win at Energetik in their last away fixture but are likely to have to settle for the play-offs to stay in the division. 2-0
Result : 1-0. A dull game decided by an amazing piece of agility from Kadimyan to finish Poe's cross at the back post. Slutsk's best chance to equalise fell to Gafar, but he shot over from 8 yards as the keeper dived at his feet.
Torpedo BelAZ Zhodino vs FK Isloch Minsk
Torpedo are on fire have lost just one match in their last 11 to launch themselves into contention for a European place, and won at Dinamo Brest in their last game in perhaps the game of the season. Without a win in 4 games, Isloch’s fine season looks to be ending on a whimper. 3-1
Result : 2-0. A regulation victory for Torpedo to keep them in fourth place. The bobble-hated Antilevksi gave the hosts the lead just before half-time, converting a penalty awarded for handball, and Gabovda doubled the lead on 60 minutes. Ramos could have had a hat-trick and Khatkevich made a couple of decent saves. Isloch's best chance was a Makas header well saved by Bushma.
Dinamo’s remarkable run to get into contention to retain their title is over after failing to win their last two games. Gorodeya’s new look side are unbeaten in 4 and they will be safe if Slutsk lose in Grodno regardless of the result here. 0-2
Result : 1-4. A straight forward win for Dinamo who dominated a poor Gorodeya side whose only consolation will be Slutsk's result ensured their survival. Despite Dinamo creating a host of chances it somehow remained goalless at halftime. The pattern continued in the second half and Noyok actually had a free-kick on target, stinging the hands of the keeper who needed treatment ! The opening goal finally came in the 51st minute, Gordeychuk tapped in at the far post after Laptev had headed on a corner. Gorodeya surprisingly equalised two minutes later with Sajcic's free-kick deceiving Ignatovich. Parity lasted 11 minutes before Big Denis was put through to finish and Milevskiy headed a third with 12 minutes to go. Gorodeya nearly pulled one back but Djouhary was unlucky to see his shot come back from the bar, after which Brest substitute Diallo hit the post from the penalty spot. Dinamo finally got the fourth goal their play deserved, Noyok scoring from 20 yards in added on time.
Energetik BGU Minsk vs Dinamo Minsk
With 5 wins on the bounce, Dinamo have hauled themselves into outside contenders for a European place. Since their heroic win at BATE, Energetik have only beaten Belshina and Smolevichy. 0-1
Result : 2-3. A sixth win on the bounce for Dinamo with four of the goals coming in the first half. Klimovich gave Dinamo an early lead, firing home from the edge of the penalty area, only for Bakic to level the scores three minutes later with a nice piece of control and a smart finish. Klimovich restored Dinamo's lead two minutes later, brushing off a weak challenge to slip the ball wide of Sadovskiy in the Energetik goal. Dinamo's third goal came from the penalty spot after the referee judged that Bashilov had handled in attempting to head clear. Shikavka sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot for a 3-1 half-time lead. Energetik got back into match 3 minutes into the second half, Bakic side-footed into the rooof of the net from Nusko's square pass. However, Energetik were unable to generate any significant pressure in the rest of the game and the better half chances fell to Dinamo.
Two mid-table sides with nothing to play for. Minsk have won 5 out of 7 in all competitions, whilst Vitebsk have only won once in their last 9 league games. 2-1
Result : 2-2. A fast start by Minsk saw them race into a 2-0 lead in the first 20 minutes, Evdokimov and Vasilyev with the goals, the latter going straight through keeper Gushchenko's hands. Vitebsk pulled a goal back just before half-time when Klopotskiy was the quickest to react to Wanderson's free-kick being pushed onto the post to tap home from 5 yards. Vitebsk created the better chances in the second half but Minsk held onto their lead. With 5 minutes left Anufriev received a second yellow card, the referee eventually finding the pocket with his red card, and in added on time Chervyakov lobbed a loose ball over the keeper and into the corner.
FK Smolevichy STI vs Slavia Mozyr
Theoretically Slavia are not yet safe from relegation, but it would take an incredible set of results in order from them to go down. Smolevichy, with 12 consecutive defeats, are ideal opponents to remove any lingering doubt. 0-3
Result : 0-3. Predictably Smolevichy lost again. Sliusar gave Slavia a fifth minute lead but they had to wait until the 89th minute to score again, with Tlupov scoring from just inside the area. Veteran defender Yuri Nedashkovskiy then thought he had scored Slavia's third goal and celebrated with a series of sommersaults. Unfortunately his shot was straight at the keeper, and deflected past the keeper by Zhevnerov for an own goal ! Smolevichy's best chance was a first half header from Makarov but Baronovski was able to paw it away to safety.
Summary :