July 2, 3 & 4, 2021
Just the seven matches this weekend, with Shakhtyor’s match being postponed to allow them time to prepare for their tough trip to Ludogorets in the Champions League First Qualifying Round, First Leg.
In their absence, BATE will be looking to further close the gap at the top, whilst Sputnik have a chance to show their dramatic comeback from 0-3 to beat Vitebsk wasn’t a one-off fluke as they have an important game at fellow strugglers Slutsk.
Elsewhere there is the first Brest derby of the season, and a sort of Minsk derby between Energetik and Isloch, neither of whom are actually playing in Minsk at the moment, and this match is being played at BATE’s old stadium in Borisov !
FK Minsk vs FK Smorgon ( Friday at 16.00 UK time )
Smorgon have picked up only 2 points from 9 away games, and Minsk have lost only once at home. Smorgon to remain bottom. 2-0
Result : 2-2. Smorgon again showed there is life in their fight against relegation, clocking up their third draw in four games, and they led at half-time in the other game. Indeed, after Minsk took a first minute lead, Alisenko profiting from a slip by Dao, it would have been easy to have thought Smorgon would slump to yet another away defeat. However, two goals just before the interval saw Smorgon take an unexpected lead. Zadi’s towering header at the far post levelled the scores before Senkevich’s delicate chip put Smorgon in front.
Smorgon didn’t appear to get the rub of the green from the referee, and after a dubious free-kick was awarded. Muniru scored his first goal for Minsk from a header to level the scores.
Despite the best efforts of both sides, neither looked like grabbing a winner and on balance a draw was a fair result.
FK Gomel vs Shakhtyor Soligorsk - POSTPONED
FK Slutsk vs FK Sputnik ( Saturday at 14.45 UK time )
After their miracle last week in coming back from 0-3 to win 4-3, Sputnik will be looking to pick-up more points in a big relegation battle. Slutsk though have lost only once a home, and should finally get the win their recent form has deserved. 2-1
Result : 3-2. A heart-breaking defeat for Sputnik, going down to a 91st minute winner after having led 1-0 and 2-1 despite being further depleted with 2 loanees going back to Shakhtyor in mid-week. Ultimately, yet again they were undone by some poor defending.
After a shot from Butarevich for Slutsk had hit both posts before staying out, Sputnik took an early lead with a well worked goal, finished with Fedyanin controlling on his chest and turning to volley home. Slutsk equalised in the 37th minute, Alfred escaped his markers to score with a diving header.
Sputnik went back in front in the 60th minute. A swift break saw the ball fed to Kontsedailov, whose smart snap-shot surprised keeper Gomelko at his near post. However, they were unable to hold onto a lead that would have seen them move out of the bottom three. Keeper Pyiatgorets did well to block a fierce Alfred shot, but the Sputnik defenders were slow to react and an attempted clearance bounced of Klochikov and over the line.
Kontsedailov was put cleared to give Sputnik the chance to regain the lead 14 minutes from the end, but Gomelko made an important save as the Sputnik midfielder attempted to go round him.
In the end Sputnik were denied an important point, as again poor marking allowed Vergeichik to powerfully head the winner from 8 yards in added on time. An important win for Slutsk to move away from the danger zone.
Energetik BGU Minsk vs FK Isloch Minsk ( Saturday at 16.45 UK time )
Potentially the most entertaining match of the weekend, and likely to be played before the lowest attendance as two Minsk sides face-off in Borisov. 2-2
Result : 1-1. Actually, the game didn’t live up to the pre-match expectation as neither side played particularly well. Energetik were the better side in the first half, but Isloch improved in the second half so a draw was a fair result.
Energetik took the lead in the 21st minute from Miroshnikov’s far post header from a corner, and they led at the break thanks to Kozyrenko’s goal bound shot being headed off the line by Miroshnikov.
Mamadu had a golden chance to extend Energetik’s lead early in the second half but Pankratov made a decent save. However, 15 minutes from time Isloch scored the equaliser their second half performance deserved through Ruslan Lisakovich’s 20 yard strike with the outside of his right foot which went in off the underside of the bar.
Torpedo BelAZ Zhodino vs Neman Grodno ( Saturday at 18.45 UK time )
Whether it is bad luck or deservedly their own fault, Neman continue to find new ways to throw away points. Torpedo to be this week’s beneficiaries ! 2-1
Result : 1-1. In a reversal of their normal fortunes, Neman grabbed a point with an equaliser in added on time. However, they then missed an excellent chance and so avoided taking all three points, which would have been a grave injustice.
Torpedo opened the scoring in the 23rd minute thanks to an own goal credited to Kantaria, but Klenye’s shot was going in anyway and there was little the Georgian could do to prevent it. Torpedo dominated the first 70 minutes and should have put the game to bed, but they were denied by the post, a clearance of the line, one decent save and some wayward finishing.
Neman’s main tactic was the hopeful punt into the Torpedo penalty area, and this paid dividends in the 92nd minute when Zabelin’s flying header sped past the despairing dive of Bushma. With 5 minutes of injury time being played, Neman went for a winner, but Baklanov snatched at the chance and fired over from 14 yards
FK Vitebsk vs BATE Borisov ( Sunday at 14.00 UK time )
Vitebsk will be hard to break down but BATE are looking irresistible and should close the gap with Shakhtyor to 2 points. 0-2
Result : 0-0. After throwing away a three-goal lead last week to lose 4-3 at Sputnik, Vitebsk no doubt had extra defensive training sessions during the week and were rewarded by taking a point from high-riding BATE, and in the process registered their 7th 0-0 of the season.
BATE huffed and puffed but rarely looked like making the breakthrough. Nekhaychik looked to be the man most likely to score and he came close on three occasions. The best chance though fell to Umarov, who probably should have opened the scoring in the 61st minute but his carefully placed shot was blocked by the outstretched defensive leg of Kalenchuk.
BATE suffered a set-back with 12 minutes to go when keeper Chichkan rushed out of his area, misjudged the bounce of the ball and ended up handling the ball, An obvious red card, to which BATE responded to by taking off Skavysh, their main striker signalling their intention to settle for a point. Previously Vitebsk had been restricted to long range efforts, and although they had more of the ball in the closing stages, it was BATE who nearly snatched the winner, but Jakob Filipovic’s injury time header from a corner went just wide.
Dinamo Minsk vs FK Slavia Mozyr ( Sunday at 16.00 UK time )
Home banker. Slavia Mozyr are struggling and look a poor side. Dinamo to win at a canter. 3-0
Result : 4-0. Just about as routine as routine wins go. Slavia were outclassed and are now in deep trouble at the bottom. Following his brace at Neman, Anton Putilo opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a tremendous strike into the top corner. After which, it became the Mbengue show, with the Sengalese forward helping himself to a hat-trick to move to 10 goals for the season. The first goal came with a give and go, and then racing forward to steer Batsula’s return pass past Baronovski. Batsula also provided the assist for Mbengue’s second goal, delivering a delightful left-footed curling cross which Mbengue glanced home, whilst his third was a solo effort, running clear onto a mis-placed back pass and calmly putting the under Baronovski.
Dinamo Brest vs Rukh Brest ( Sunday at 18.00 UK time )
The Brest derbies last season were tremendous games with Dinamo eventually winning both games. With many of the Dinamo players now plying their trade with Rukh, the raucous home crowd could help their new look side get a point. 1-1
Result : 1-1. A fabulous end-to-end to match, played at a high tempo with a great atmosphere from the league's highest attendance in two seasons, and chances galore. 3-3 might have been a fairer reflection of the game, Rukh hit the woodwork twice, Dinamo once.
Rukh took the lead in the 32nd minute, Denis Grechikho’s stunning diving back header in front of the near post flew across the goal into the opposite top corner.
Dinamo had to wait until the 79th minute to equalise. Bilenyki, the game’s outstanding performer took time to control Orsehkevich’s low cross, took a step and then picked his spot for a tremendous finish into the corner. Bilenyki nearly grabbed the winner for Dinamo three minutes later, but after a surging run sliced his shot just high and wide.
The final whistle was greeted by a huge roar from the Dinamo faithful.
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