April 2, 3 & 4 March, 2021
Although the league took a break for the World Cup Qualifiers last week, most sides arranged friendly matches to stay match-fit and to continue to build teamwork and understanding. There should be no excuses for the weekend !
The two sides with 100% records play each other, whilst two pointless and goal-less sides also meet, so there are a few statistics to go this weekend. There are several fascinating games in prospect, although Vitebsk could easily achieve a third successive 0-0 !
Neman Grodno vs Dinamo Brest ( Friday at 15.30 UK time )
After holding BATE in Round 2, another tough test for the new look Dinamo Brest side. Neman have been typically solid at the back with their main danger so far coming from set pieces. 1-0
Result : 0-1. Another binary result for Neman against a solid Dinamo side yet to concede a goal this season. Frankly, this was a turgid match as Neman pressed but failed to make much of an impression against a side doing a convincing impression of the Wall of Grodno from last season. Dinamo keeper Stepanov was kept busy, but all the saves he was required to make were the routine type he would be expected to make.
For Neman, Kyrgyzstan International Alimardon Shukurov looked lively but had a tendancy to fall over and also wasted two good chances, including being left free 12 yards out with the goal at his mercy but side-footed weakly for Stepanov to make an easy save. The return of Zabelin on loan from Shakhtyor helped Neman control midfield but Zubovich could have done better with two headers.
The game was decided 10 minutes from time. In a rare Dinamo foray into the Neman penalty area, Nigerian teenager Mukhtar Sanusi did well to twist and cross to the near post where Shestyuk crashed the ball into the roof of the net from close range. Neman's best chance to equalise came in added on time when they won a free-kick in a dangerous position just outside the Dinamo penalty area, but Yakimov's free-kick was sent embarassingly wide.
Dinamo have served notice that they will be hard to beat, but they won't necessarily be pretty to watch !
BATE Borisov vs FK Gomel ( Saturday 12.00 UK time )
An intriguing encounter. Gomel have impressed so far, but their attacking approach could be more suitable for BATE, who looked one-dimensional in trying to break down a resolute Dinamo Brest defence. 3-1
Result : 3-2. In the end BATE were hanging on to take the three points after one of the most entertaining matches of the season so far and in front of a decent sized crowd. Ultimately, two goals in a minute from half-time substitute Umarov shortly after his arrival on the pitch were the difference between two sides, the first being a stunning strike from outside of the area, with the second a cool finish one-on-one with the keeper after latching onto a long ball over the Gomel back-line.
Although BATE had nearly 70% of possession in the first half, it was Gomel who took the lead after 30 minutes, Vaskov being left unmarked at the back post to slam home Levitskiy’s low cross from around 15 yards out. BATE’s equaliser arrived courtesy of their aerial strength, Jacob Filipovic’s neat flicked header from Karasev’s free-kick giving Gomel keeper Kovalyov no chance.
Gomel did not lay down after falling 1-3 behind and created a number of good chances in the final third of the match, but Solovei was denied by Chichkan from close range and Vaskov shot into the side netting when well placed. Gomel also had a strong claim for a penalty after a handball by Karasev, but referee Denis Scherbakov adjusted the incident had occurred marginally outside the area. At the other end Nechaev’s long range effort forced a decent diving save from Kovalyov.
Eventually Gomel pulled a goal back with 3 minutes left on the clock, a long throw was twice headed on for Solovei to head home from inside the 6 yard box to set-up a tense finish from the hosts.
However, BATE survived but Gomel again served notice that they will be well worth watching this season.
Sputnik Rechitsa vs FK Minsk ( Saturday at 14.00 UK time )
Sputnik are yet to score although Nicaraguan striker Ariagner Smith did score twice in his country’s World Cup Qualifier against the mighty Turks and Caicos Islands. Minsk will be a much tougher proposition though, and will be buoyed by their get-out-of-jail free act against Rukh. 1-2
Result : 0-1. Minsk edged out Sputnik to earn their first win of the season, with the winning goal coming from full-back Aliseiko in the 50th minute, with a simple finish at the back post after Zinovich’s low cross from the left had beaten everyone.
Minsk made the better chances in the first half in an even first half, as Zinovich hit the post when he really ought to have scored, and Lopez had a good chance well saved for a corner..
Minsk keeper Ignatovich had to leave the field mid-way through the second half with a nasty looking injury, and substitute keeper Prishivalko was forced to make two tips over the bar, and a comfortable save from Djouhary, Sputnik’s best player on the day.
It was a repeat performance from Sputnik, looking good in possession but with no cutting edge or creativity in the final third. Nicaraguan Smith was not in the match-day squad after international duty in the Caribbean and his return could be key to avoiding a Groundhog Day next week. They remain pointless and goal-less.
Shakhtyor Soligorsk vs FK Isloch Minsk ( Saturday 16.00 UK time )
A match-up between the only two sides left with 100% records so something has to give. Isloch have surprised a few people with their performances so far, whilst Shakhtyor have got two wins without particularly playing well. 2-0
Result : 4-0. Shakhtyor’s emphatic victory broadcast the message that the Champions are the team to beat this season, and served as a reminder that Isloch’s two wins were over lowly Smorgon and Slavia.
After an unconvincing start to the season Gambian striker Dembo Darboe repaid a slice of his transfer fee with two goals, the second of which involved two step-overs before a thumping shot from the edge of the area into the roof of the net after Isloch had carelessly passed to him.
Darboe’s first goal showed a good striker’s instinct to anticipate a goal-keeping fumble from Ivanovic’s skiddy shot and he smashed in from close range to give Shakhtyor a first half lead. Shakhtyor’s second goal came just before half-time, after Szoke reacted the quickest to prod home a knock-down from an in-swinging cross.
Albanian midfielder Valon Ahmedi crowned another impressive with Shakhtyor’s third in the 54th minute after Isloch had allowed Podstrelov to run from box to box unimpeded and thread a pin-point ball for a left-footed finish past Vasilyuchuk by the Albanian.
A hard reality check for Isloch.
Torpedo BelAZ Zhodino vs FK Vitebsk ( Saturday 18.00 UK time )
Vitebsk have had a tough fixture list to start the season but have ground out two 0-0 draws against Neman and Dinamo Minsk. A repeat against another one of the sided tipped to challenge for a European place is possible, but Torpedo after two away matches so far will be looking for a winning start at home. Expect it to be tight. 1-0
Result : 1-0. Vitebsk parked their big blue bus on the grass pitch in Torpedo’s main stadium in Zhodino but the strategy was undone by a comedy own-goal credited to captain Skitov on the half-hour. Vitebsk keeper Gushchenko looked about to grab a loose ball before the unfortunate Skitov, under no pressure, slid in and poked it passed his prone custodian.
Vitebsk did open up a little in the second half and Teverov forced a slightly fortunate save from Bushma, but this was a turgid game with few inspirational moments. Monteiro had a good chance to wrap-up out the win on 90th minute for Torpedo but he missed badly with only the keeper to beat when Antilevski unselfishly squared the ball to him.
Being marginally more positive, Torpedo probably deserved the three points. Vitebsk have failed to score in three games and the run could last for quite a while !
Dinamo Minsk vs FK Slutsk ( Sunday 12.00 UK time )
Dinamo appeared to return to their dull old ways at Vitebsk but a home match against a Slutsk side that have been quite enterprising could enable them to show the form in demolishing Torpedo was not a flash in the pan. 2-0
Result : 1-0. Stories of Dinamo’s transformation into a vibrant, attacking force have been greatly exaggerated.
Playing at their own grass pitch rather than the artifical surface at FK Minsk, Dinamo took the lead on 30 minutes. Poe’s delightful lob with his left foot after a poor header by Slutsk centre-back Anyukevich left Slutsk keeper Branovets stranded, and after that 1-0 always looked like being the final scoreline. Klimovich could have added a second just before half-time but shot wide when he should have at least hit the target.
Dinamo deserved their win and are still to concede a goal this season. Slutsk rarely threatened but did enough to suggest they will be mid-table this season.
FK Slavia Mozyr vs FK Smorgon ( Sunday 14.00 UK time )
Both sides are goal-less and pointless. Smorgon have apparently had more shots on target than anyone else in the league so might be due a goal. Slavia have so far shown very little going forward. This could be a hard watch ! 1-1
Result : 1-1. There’ll be dancing in the streets of Smorgon, and not just by its famous dancing bears, after their team earned its first point and scored it’s first goal of the season.
As befitting a match between two sides likely to struggle this season, both goals were scrappy and preventable. Slavia took the lead after 37 minutes. Smorgon keeper Scherbachenya missed a cross, it hit Burkina Faso defender Dao and Barsukov bundled the ball over the line, although the final touch may have come off the unfortunate Dao.
Slavia could have sealed the match with 15 minutes left, but Tetteh’s header hit the base of the post and Scherbachenya made a brave block to keep out Tymonyuk.
Smorgon got a deserved equaliser 5 minutes later. Kovalev’s shot from just inside the area took a huge deflection, keeper Baronovski got a hand to it but couldn’t claw the ball away from the goal after a desperate dive. Rather harshly it went down as an own goal to Baronovski, so the wait for a Smorgon player to score continues.
Smorgon nearly stole a winner at the death but after Baronovski mis-punched a corner, the ball was hacked off the line by a Slavia defender.
A draw was probably a fair result. Hope for Smorgon, but worrying times for the Slavia faithful.
Rukh Brest vs Energetik BGU Minsk ( Sunday 16.00 UK time )
Rukh were awful against Gomel but threw away a win against Minsk after dominating. After a poor first half against Shakhtyor, Energetik impressed and nearly snatched a point against the champions. Could be the most entertaining game of the week-end. 2-1
Result : 0-0. A more entertaining match than a 0-0 score usually suggests, with both sides guilty of missing good chances. Rukh though continue to be less than the sum of their parts and didn’t deserve anything more than a point.
Rukh had the better of the first half, Kontsevoi had a shot deflected wide for a corner, Savitski should have scored after being set up by Diallo, and Rakhmanov couldn’t react quickly enough to a deflection and could only prod wide.
Energetik grew into the game and Rukh could be thankful that keeper Pavlyuchenko had one of his better days, pushing away shots from Vladislav Vasiljev, Rylach and Mawatu and holding Moussakhanian’s snap-shot on the turn. Pavlyuchenko couldn’t do anything though about Artem Vasiljev’s shot and was grateful to see it hit the post.
Energetik’s display suggested they can look forward to at least a place in the top half of the table. Rukh are looking less likely to be contenders for a European place.
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