April 23, 24 & 25 April 2021
After the midweek first legs of the Belarus Cup Semi-finals, the Belarus Premier League moves onto Week 6. The result of the Cup matches were :
Shakhtyor Soligorsk 1-0 FK Isloch Minsk ( att : 920 )
BATE Borisov 4-1 Torpedo BelAZ Zhodino ( att : 2,000 )
BATE look to have booked their place in the final with an emphatic win over Torpedo, albeit being favoured with two marginal decisions. Shakhtyor will be favourites to join them, but Isloch will still harbour hopes of a place in Europa and Dinamo Brest will be hoping they fail !
The second legs are scheduled for May 5th.
FK Smorgon vs FK Sputnik ( Friday at 16.00 UK time )
A battle of the newly promoted sides and a 6-pointer already in week 6 ! Sputnik have actually won a match, and despite their trashing at the hands of Isloch, Sputnik look to have more of a cutting edge up front. 1-2
Result : 2-0. An important and deserved win for Smorgon in their first home fixture of the season after 5 successive away matches. Cheered on by some boisterous support, they might be able to make their home ground a bit of a fortress, and they do now have a 100% home record !
In a game of fairly low quality Smorgon had the better chances and were clearly up for the encounter. With a rugged approach they bullied Sputnik, whose neat play made little impact and the flow of the match wasn’t helped either by a whistle happy referee.
Smorgon took the lead in the 37th minute with a smart finish by Kovel after a poor mistake from Sputnik’s Volovik, who completely misjudged his attempt to intercept a floating cross. It was the first goal of the season by a Smorgon player, their one previous being an own goal.
Volovik’s day got worse in the 69th minute when he was shown a harsh second yellow card, and as the snow started to fall in the closing minutes, Smorgon wrapped up the win when Kopach out jumped and out muscled Mikhalenko to head home from close to the goal line after keeper Rudenok had only been able to parry a strong shot into the air.
In between the two goals, Savostyanov’s 30 yard free-kick hit the bar, and Rudenok made a spectacular looking save from Kopach’s fierce drive. Sputnik rarely threatened, and their best chance came in added on time, but Smith’s shot was cleared off the line
FK Slavia Mozyr vs FK Slutsk ( Friday at 18.00 UK time )
Slavia didn’t play too badly at Shakhtyor despite the scoreline. Slutsk have looked promising, but may not have enough to better Slavia. 1-1
Result : 3-1. A repeat of last year’s famous swamp match and fortunately none of the players were in danger of drowning here !
Slutsk sprang a surprise by leaving Alfred, their most impressive player so far this season, on the bench, and frankly they were second best for most of the match. They fell behind in the 8th minute, Tlupov’s shot was fumbled by keeper Branovets, and the loose ball was lashed home from just inside the six yard box by Barsukov. Slavia’s Nedashkovskiy did have to be alert to make an acrobatic left-footed clearance off the line after Glebko had flicked on a low corner but Slavia deserved their half-time lead.
Bocherov’s careless handball enable Chukhley to double Slavia’s lead from the penalty spot in the 49th minute but Vergeichuk quickly pulled a goal back with a terrific headed flick from a corner.
Soon after, Slutsk threw on Alfred as they chased the game but Slavia settled the result in the 74th minute when a terrific cross picked out Tlupov unmarked in the Slutsk penalty area and in the act of shooting he was fouled by Rashchenya for a clear penalty. The cross into the area though had actually been made by a Slutsk defender, who stupidly was trying to play the ball from one side of the pitch to the other. Sliusar sent Branovets the wrong way from the spot.
To compound matters for Slutsk Butarevich received an unnecessary second yellow in added on time, although that had little bearing on the result.
A first win of the season for Slavia, who look to be improving, whilst Slutsk’s disappointing performance undid a lot of the favourable impression they had generated so far in the season.
Dinamo Brest vs FK Vitebsk ( Saturday at 12.00 UK time )
Dinamo were impressive against Torpedo, and have only conceded once all season. Vitebsk have drawn a blank in 4 out of 5 league games. 1-0
Result : 0-0. A match that started quite brightly but gradually went downhill. Dinamo had most of the possession but were not the first team to run out of ideas on how to break down the Blue Bus of Vitebsk. Slovakian Ivan was prominent in midfield for Dinamo in the first half but his influence faded as the game progressed.
Dinamo were able to apply some pressure in the last 5 minutes but Sedko saw two efforts blocked, and from the resulting corner, Gushchenko made a brilliant diving save to keep out Bilenkyi’s header.
Vitebsk, playing in a horrible combination of their usual blue shirts but with burgundy shorts, did have one golden chance, but Dinamo keeper Stepanov made a brave block to deny Diego Carioca.
Perhaps the highlight of a forgettable game came in the 82nd minute, when the referee showed a yellow card and then a red to Vitebsk midfielder Evgeni Krasnov. Unfortunately for the ref, Krasnov had not received a first yellow, and the puzzled Krasnov stayed on the pitch, and the game continued. Krasnov was substituted two minutes later, perhaps before the referee could change his mind again !
Dinamo remain unbeaten but have now drawn all three of their home matches, whilst Vitebsk have featured in four 0-0 draws, have only scored in one league game, and also only conceded in one league game. Rather than being renamed Vitebsk Nil, perhaps Vitebsk Nil-Nil might be more appropriate !
Energetik BGU Minsk vs Neman Grodno ( Saturday at 14.00 UK time )
Neman are struggling to score, with just one goal all season, whereas Energetik have played brightly at times without necessarily getting the results. 2-0
Result : 1-1. After 80 minutes it looked like Neman would slip to a limp 0-1 defeat with a toothless display after falling behind in the 11th minute, when Bashilov’s cross was met at the far post by Mawatu, who stuck out a foot to send the ball looping past the keeper into the opposite corner.
Energetik appeared to be comfortably holding onto their lead, and occasionally looked dangerous on the break. Artem Vasiljev should have added a second before half-time after a two on zero break, and the same player probably should have won a penalty after going to ground after rounding the keeper, but received a yellow card for simulation instead ( after the referee had mistakenly first pulled a red card out of his pocket ! ). Kurganski then kept Neman in the game with a fine diving save to tip over Vigovskiy’s shot on the turn with 15 minutes to go.
The game changed dramatically with 8 minutes left to play. With the snow starting to fall, Zubovich’s low shot didn’t seem to be too powerful but the ball crept into the corner past Bakonin’s slow motion dive. The Energetik keeper probably should have saved the shot.
Having scored only their second goal of the season, Neman surged forward in search of another goal and they looked the most likely side to win the match. Five minutes later Zubovich though he had scored the winner with a scooped finish from close range, but the linesman flagged for offside. Then Pasevich had a 20 yard volley pushed over the bar by Bakonin, and Legchilin should have buried a low cross inside the 6 yard box. In-between, Energetik somehow managed to bungle a 3 on 1 breakaway.
In the end both sides would probably be disappointed with only a draw, and whilst Energetik were in control for 80 minutes and should have put the game beyond Neman’s reach, Neman’s spirited finish probably deserved a point.
FK Minsk vs Dinamo Minsk ( Saturday at 16.00 UK time )
This could be a fascinating match or it could be dire ! Minsk have looked much more robust at the back this season, and Dinamo are known for binary football. 0-0
Result : 1-3. After their home loss to Gomel, Dinamo Minsk made 5 changes to their starting line-up, including a first start to ex Akhmat Grozny Senegalese striker Ablaye Mbengue, with Lozkhin and Putsila also amongst those coming in, and Poe & Davyskiba amongst those dropping to the bench.
The changes worked as the vibrant Dinamo of Week 1 against Torpedo returned, and they led 2-0 at the half-time thanks to goals from Putsila and Mbengue in a two minute spell just before the break. First, Putsila sent a tremendous left-footed shot into the top corner after a good run, then Mbengue showed a good turn and acceleration to beat two defenders and prod post the advancing keeper for a lovely finish.
Minsk played their part in an entertaining match, and got back into the match in the 58th minutes when Bogomolsky shrugged off a weak challenge from Batsula to slip the ball under Pomazan. It took Dinamo just 5 minutes though to re-establish their two goal advantage but Kislyak’s pile-driver was going yards wide until it took a huge deflection to leave Prishivalko stranded.
Overall, a deserved win for Dinamo which they will be hoping will kick-start their title challenge, Minsk also looked good in spells, but Dinamo were more clinical in taking their chances.
FK Isloch Minsk vs BATE Borisov ( Sunday at 13.45 UK time )
Isloch have beaten the teams in the bottom third of the table but lost to sides in top third. BATE have been impressive in spells but now seem to be moving into top gear. 1-2
Result : 1-4. The BATE bandwagon gathered further momentum with this ultimately convincing victory. However, they had to come from behind, Komarovsky gave the home side an early lead with a curling left-footed shot from the edge of the area, and BATE only really took control after Isloch were reduced to 10 men after 30 minutes following a second yellow card to Shalashnikov. Despite Dragun’s bullet headed equaliser, BATE’s defence had looked shaky up until that point.
After going into the break on level terms, BATE pressed home their advantage in the second half. First, Volodjko smashed home into the roof of the net after a goalmouth scramble where Isloch’s defenders appeared to get in each other’s way in their desperate panic to clear, then another splendid diving header from Dragun, his fourth header in two games, put the match beyond the home side. BATE could have added several more in the last half-hour, but some good goal-keeping and committed defending restricted them to just Skavysh’s comprehensive strike from 8 yards.
Shakhtyor Soligorsk vs Rukh Brest ( Sunday at 15.45 UK time )
Possibly the game of the weekend. Shakhtyor have a 100% record but Rukh are slowly starting to gel after a slow start to the season. Perhaps Shakhtyor’s first real test of the season. 3-1
Result : 4-1. Shakhtyor passed their first major test of the season by outclassing Rukh, and Demba Darboe enhanced his status as the fans favourite with two clinical first half finishes to set Shakhtyor on their way to victory, and he sealed his hat-trick 13 minutes from time with another classy goal when put one on one with the Rukh keeper. The excitement from the crowd whenever Darboe received the ball was audible, and the sobriquet the “Banjul Assassin” has since appeared on social media.
In between his goals, Gleb Shevchenko showed he is not just in the team to meet the playing of one Under 21 local player requirement, with a decent finish for the 3rd goal after an assist from Darboe.
Admitedly, Rukh were poor, and Shakhtyor have now played 5 matches out of 6 at home, but the odds on them retaining their title must have shortened considerably.
Savitski’s late penalty was scant consolation for Rukh and after their big build-up to the season, Rukh coack Alshevsky must now be under huge pressure.
FK Gomel vs Torpedo BelAZ Zhodino ( Sunday at 18.45 UK time )
Gomel’s approach this season has been a breath of fresh air to the Premier League, and Torpedo lack the potency upfront to take advantage of their occasional defensive weaknesses. 2-0
Result : 1-1. Antilevski’s late penalty after an accidental handball rescued a point for Torpedo. Whilst Gomel will probably feel they deserved to win, this was perhaps a harsh lesson on how tough the Premier League can be. Despite Gomel having most of the possession, Torpedo always had a potent threat, and in a fairly even first half with Gomel doing most of the pressing, Torpedo kept them honest on the counter attack, and could have led at the break but Antilevski’s thumping effort crashed back off the bar.
Nekrasov’s thumping 25 yard drive into the top corner finally broke the deadlock in the 74th minute, but Gomel were unable to see out the victory.
Summary :