November 28, 2020
The final day of the Belarus Premier League season and with the title and all the European places still up for grabs an exciting finish is in prospect. There are likely to be more twists and turns as we have come to expect with the football in Belarus !
A win for BATE win see them regain the title, a draw would be sufficient if Shakhtyor fail to win their match, but a loss for BATE would see Shakhtyor become champions if they avoid defeat, as with an equal head to head record they have the better goal difference.
Wins for Neman and Torpedo would see them take third and fourth respectively ( Neman have the superior head to head record between the two sides ), but any slip up could enable either ( or both ) Dinamo sides to overtake them. If both Dinamos win and Torpedo draw they would all finish with 54 points and it gets very complicated !!
A win for Dinamo Brest over Neman would almost certainly guarantee them at least fourth place. However, fourth place will only qualify for the Europa Conference if the Belarus Cup is won by a side finishing in the top three, and that won’t be known until next May !
At bottom Smolevichy and Belshina are already relegated, and Slutsk face the relegation play-offs.
All games kick off on Saturday at 2pm local time ( 11am UK ), with the Dinamo Minsk vs BATE being behind closed doors.
Dinamo Minsk vs BATE Borisov
Possibly the toughest game BATE could face in order to become champions. Dinamo have won 6 matches on the trot, need a win to keep their faint European hopes alive, won the reverse fixture in Borisov, and will hate to see their arch rivals win the title on their ground. It should be a cracker ! 1-1
Result : 0-0. Actually, it wasn't a cracker..........BATE failed to get to grips with the Dinamo way of playing and perhaps were a shade fortunate to even get a draw as Dinamo looked the side more likely to break the deadlock in a game of precious few chances. The best chance came in the 20th minutes when the referee awarded a penalty to Dinamo after the ball struck the hand of Filpovic but Shikavka's weak penalty was pushed away by BATE keeper Chichkan. BATE's only decent chance came in added on time, when needing a goal to win the championship, a ball launched into the Dinamo area was headed on twice to Skavysh who was able to turn but shot hurriedly high and wide.
Shakhtyor Soligorsk vs FK Minsk
A must win match for Shakhtyor against a Minsk side in good form but nothing to play for. Shakhtyor to become champions !! 3-1
Result : 4-2. Shakhtyor did it, but they did it the hard way ! When Minsk named a side with a few of their fringe players getting a chance it looked like it would be straightforward day for Shakhtyor. However, Minsk hadn't read the script and after Yakshiboev's early strike was ruled out for an earlier offside, the visitors took the lead in the 17th minute when Zherdev ran on to a through ball and finished nicely with his left foot. Kendysh equalised 6 minutes later from an acute angle but Minsk upset the apple cart again when Vasyliev's shot was parried into the path of Shramchenko who tapped into the empty net from 6 yards, and they were unlucky not to score again when Vasyliev's amazing 30 yard effort struck the angle of post and crossbar and bounced out to safety.
As Shakhtyor's play became increasingly frantic and error strewn, Darko Bodul was thrown on in place of Yakshiboev, and on 71 minutes his free-kick was headed home by Arkhipov. With BATE still being held by Dinamo Minsk another goal could have handed the title to Shakhtyor, and they pressed forward leaving gaps at the back. Perhaps the turning point was a red card to Minsk's Sazonchik in the 84th minute for an off the ball incident missed by the TV cameras. With the clock into the red zone and 6 minutes of added on time being played, Begunov arrived at the far post to side foot home potentially the title winning goal. Arkhipov's second goal in the 8th minute of added time put the icing on Shakhtyor's championship cake !!
Dinamo Brest vs Neman Grodno
Dinamo need a win to finish in top four and break Neman’s hearts. A great match is in prospect. 2-1.
Result : 3-1. A dramatic match after which Dinamo finshed 4th and Neman missed out on European football via a league placing ( they could still win the Belarus Cup ). Neman looked the better side in the first half and took the lead after 20 minutes with a comedy own goal. Marusic's shot on the turn was blocked by keeper Ignatovich but Veretilo's attempted clearance hit Yuzepchuk and bounced into the net. Dinamo were on level terms within a minute though when Laptev played in Gordeychuk to steer into the roof of the goal. Dinamo took control in the second half, with Laptev showing unexpected creativity to make 2 chances which were spurned, before Milevskiy was left free inside the 6 yard box to head home a cross from Krivets and put Dinamo into the lead. With a draw now looking likely to give Neman fourth place, they laid siege on the Dinamo goal. Four minutes from time they appealed hopefully for a penalty when Laptev blocked Rassadkin's effort with his knees on the goal-line, and then Marusic forced a smart save from Ignatovich and Rassadkin fired the high over the bar in the ensuing scramble. In the second minute of injury time Marusic's flicked headed hit the post with Ignatovich beaten. Dinamo rubbed salt into the wound with a 4 on 2 break and Kislyak calmly crossed for Bykov to head past Kurganski in the Neman goal.
FK Vitebsk vs Torpedo BelAZ Zhodino
A win for Torpedo could secure third place and possibly European football. Vitebsk will be difficult to break down and have only lost twice at home all season. Torpedo have taken 13 point from the last 15 away from home. 0-1
Result : 2-3. On a bright but cold day with snow visibly having been cleared from the pitch Torpedo secured third place after a dramatic match. After only 14 minutes the score was already 1-1. Torpedo looked in control after Ramos put them ahead shortly after half-time but Vitebsk levelled with 12 minutes to play. Knowing that a win would now give them third place Torpedo pressed for a third goal. With 4 minutes to play, Khachaturyan pounced on a defensive slip and unselfishly squared to Veloso who had an open goal. However, after celebrating too wildly infront of the Vitebsk bench Veloso was sent off, but Torpedo comfortably saw out the end of the game.
FK Isloch Minsk vs FK Gorodeya
After a tremendous run Isloch have now gone 4 games without a win. Gorodeya’s new look side did enough to secure survival but with that now achieved have little to play for. 3-0
Result : 2-2. A second match played behind closed doors with a handful of hardy Isloch fans watching from the hill overlooking the Traktor pitch. Gorodeya started fastly out of the blocks and had established a 2-0 lead after just over 20 minutes after fine finishes from Djouhary and Arkhipov. Isloch were stirred from their slumbers and pulled one goal back before half time through Yusov's thumping header and Karpovich lashed home the equaliser five minutes after the break after a bit on pinball in the Gorodeya area.
Belshina Bobruisk vs Rukh Brest
Rukh could run riot against a Belshina side with a relegation hangover. 0-4
Result : 3-7. It rained goals in the sleet in Bobruisk and whilst Rukh couldn't quite match the 8 they scored at Energetik BGU, they did finish up with the most away goals in the season ( 35 ) and the third best away record. Belshina took a shock early lead but Rukh stormed back to lead 4-1 at half time. Levitskiy scored his second for Belshina to bring the score back to 2-5 and Rekish scored the final goal of the match with a 20 yard screamer to make it 3-7. For Rukh Sadovskiy notched four goals.
FK Slavia Mozyr vs Energetik BGU Minsk
Two middle table sides with nothing to play for but it should be entertaining. 2-2
Result : 2-1. After a fairly uneventful game, a scrambled finish from Diaz after good work by Mawatu looked like giving Energetik the three points. However, two goals from Zhuk in the final minute gave Slavia an unlikely win.
FK Slutsk vs FK Smolevichy STI - Cancelled due to Covid in Slutsk camp
A 14th consecutive defeat beckons for Smolevichy as Slutsk will want a confidence booster ahead of their play-off matches against NFK Krumkachy. 3-0
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