August 20, 21 & 22, 2021
The Belarus Premier League moves on to week 20, so there are just 11 rounds of matches remaining, with many sides having only 10 games to play as a result of Sputnik folding. Shakhtyor’s slip up at Smorgon and their dismal form in European competition has given hope to the chasing pack that the title is not a formality, and that Shakhtyor could start falling apart. This week they face another side desperate for points at the bottom of the table, namely Slavia Mozyr.
Elsewhere, the pick of the round appears to be Dinamo Minsk’s visit to Gomel, where they will be looking for revenge for a home defeat which announced Gomel’s arrival as a team to be reckoned with in the top flight.
FK Slutsk vs FK Vitebsk ( Friday at 16.00 UK time )
Vitebsk have played 9 draws this season, 7 of which have been 0-0, plus another 0-0 in the Cup against lower league opposition. On the other hand, they have played in some of the most entertaining games of the season ( Sputnik 3-4 L, Minsk 3-3 D, Energetik 3-2 W ). It is hard to know which side will turn up !
Slutsk have looked good at times, but haven’t always picked up the points their play may have deserved, and are in need of points to move away from the danger zone. They are unbeaten in two, and have only lost twice at home. 1-1
Result : 1-2. A surprisingly comfortable victory for Vitebsk against a disappointing Slutsk side who will be in deep trouble with too many more performances like this. The absent Alfred is clearly being missed.
The writing was on the wall for Slutsk as early as the 6th minute, when Julio Cesar out muscled Butarevich to head home from a corner. Having taken the lead, it was a text-book Vitebsk performance, rarely looking like creating anything themselves but also never looking in any danger at the back. The match was effectively settled 20 minutes from time when Ksenofontov broke down the left and unselfishly set-up Rassadkin to tap-in from half a yard.
Slutsk did pull a goal back 9 minutes from time when Klochkov followed up after his header had been blocked to shoot home from 6 yards. However, there was no barnstorming finish, and Teverov should have added a third for Vitebsk.
FK Smorgon vs Rukh Brest ( Saturday at 14.00 UK time )
Smorgon will be hoping to show that their draw against Shakhtyor was not just a flash in the pan, whilst Rukh have a great opportunity to apply some pressure at the top. Smorgon have often led at half-time at home before fading in the second. This could well be repeated again this week. 1-2
Result : 1-1. For the second week running Smorgon claimed a home draw against a top 4 side. Unusually, this time they came from behind, with Kirill Leonovich nipping between two ball watching Rukh defenders to guide home a cross from the right wing with just three minutes remaining.
Rukh had taken the lead in the first half with a collector’s item, an on-target shot from Noyok ! Rather than a blaze into row Z, his slightly mis-hit effort crept past Shapko and into the corner. However, Rukh were generally very ordinary and didn’t deserve to take all three points.
Whilst Smorgon will probably be pleased with a point, they need to start converting draws into wins if they are to have any realistic hopes of avoiding the automatic relegation place.
FK Slavia Mozyr vs Shakhtyor Soligorsk ( Saturday at 16.00 UK time )
A huge test for Shakhtyor, which could be a major indicator of how the rest of the season will pan out. A failure to win at lowly Slavia could well see the panic button being reached for, even if they remain unbeaten. All is not well in the Soligorsk camp and it will be interesting to see what changes are made to their starting line-up this week. Slavia are unbeaten in three, and now look to be a more solid side at the back, with Narh also in good goalscoring form in recent weeks. 1-2
Result : 0-4. Shakhtyor coach Sergei Gurenko clearly blamed Antic and Stasevich as the disruptive influences in the camp as both were dropped from the match-day squad, and his team responded with a convincing win over an inept Slavia side ( with the honourable exception of Francis Narh ), who again look to be facing a struggle to avoid the relegation play-offs. Shakhtyor have now won 15 out of 17 with two draws, and it is incredible to think this is a club in crisis !
Demba Darboe was again the key player for Shakhtyor with two goals, one from the penalty spot to open the scoring after Slavia thought rugby tackles were an acceptable way of defending corners, and the other an incredible 70 yard run after Slavia had pressed too high for a corner and once Darboe had played the ball beyond the one covering defender there was only one outcome, and the way he rounded the keeper was pure class.
Bosnian Milos Satara marked his debut with the second goal for Shakhtyor, a stunning 30+ yard swerving free-kick that totally foxed Slavia keeper Romanyuk, and Skavysh wrapped up the scoring in the 90th minute with a typical dribble and finish into the roof of the net.
FK Gomel vs Dinamo Minsk ( Saturday at 18.00 UK time )
The tie of the round as 5th host 4th. Gomel were a little unlucky to lose at Neman last week, failing to turn all their possession into good chances. They usually look far better when teams play open football against them, so it will be interesting to see what tactics Dinamo adopt as they bid to inflict Gomel’s first home defeat of the season. Dinamo have been entertaining in their run of 6 games unbeaten, but a return to the negative tactics of the previous regime might serve them better here ? 0-0
Result : 2-0. A welcome return to form for Gomel who remain unbeaten at home this season. After an even first 40 minutes, Gomel took the lead in spectacular fashion just before the interval. There didn’t appear to be any danger when Podubey received the ball 25 yards away from the goal, and the Dinamo defence were in no hurry to close him down. With hardly any back-lift, the Gomel midfielder sent a shot into the far top corner, giving Khatkevich no chance.
Gomel added a second shortly after the break, Vasyliev profited from some poor defending by Matveychik, who really ought to have intercepted Solovei’s through ball, to shoot left-footed between Khatkevich and his near post.
FK Minsk vs Neman Grodno ( Sunday at 14.00 UK time )
Minsk have lost their last two matches, both away, 0-1, and have looked well organised but impotent upfront. Neman are on a roll with three consecutive league wins, plus another in the Cup, to head away from the danger zone. However, they are not safe yet, and may need to settle for a point here as Minsk have only lost once at home. 1-1
Result : 0-4. A fourth consecutive win for Neman who are sailing to the calmer waters away from the relegation whirlpool. In contrast, Minsk are in the doldrums after three loses without scoring a goal.
Neman opened the scoring in the second minute, Dzhigero’s hopeful shot-cum-lob sailed over Minsk keeper Prishvalko and into the top corner. Despite the early set-back Minsk looked slightly the better side, and had a good spell of pressure shortly after half-time. However, the stuffing was knocked out of them after Prishivalko allowed a tame shot from Zukovski to slip between his fingers and legs. Neman took control after that.
The lively Shukarov shot into the top corner from 25 yards and Suchkov tapped in from close range after a low cross. Neman could afford to miss a penalty in added on time. Muniru was shown the red card for tripping Myzgin who was clear on goal, but the Russian forward but his spot kick wide of the post.
Energetik BGU Minsk vs BATE Borisov ( Sunday at 16.00 UK time )
Energetik haven’t won since the end of June, and have looked poor at times recently. BATE haven’t been setting the world alight with fantastic play either, but they have more often than not got a decent result. 0-1
Result : 1-1. A deserved point for Energetik, playing their home game in BATE’s old stadium in Borisov. They opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a well worked goal. Papariga ran past a couple of BATE defenders and played in Ubaydullaev, but from a wide angle the Uzbek was able to shoot across goal and score off the inside of the post. Energetik were only ahead for 4 minutes though, Milic latched onto a loose bouncing ball to equalise from 15 yards.
Abdukhalikov, one of 4 Uzbeks to feature in the game, missed a good chance for Energetik early in the second half, and Mamadu hit the post. At the other end, Energetik survived a mass scramble in the 6 yard box, Miroshnikov clearing off the line at one point.
BATE piled on the pressure in the last 10 minutes in search of the winning goal. Signevich headed against a post, Umarov saw a shot tipped over the bar, and Umarov then wasted the best chance, shooting when a simple pass would have left Yusov with an open goal.
Dinamo Brest vs Torpedo BelAZ Zhodino ( Sunday at 18.00 UK time )
Torpedo have looked ordinary for most of the season but will be hoping that the return of Veloso will inspire them. Dinamo have lost both league games since the sensational performance to win at BATE. In-between the league matches, they recorded a convincing win in the Cup over Rukh, and on their day, they should be too good for Torpedo. 2-0
Result : 3-2. Another cracking game in the Brestskiy. Seemingly down and out at 0-2 down after Dmitri Antilevksi had struck twice for Torpedo, roared on by their fanatical crowd Dinamo came back to level at 2-2, Torpedo missed a penalty, before Dinamo grabbed the winner.
Dinamo hadn’t played too badly, but were 0-2 down at half-time due to Antilevski’s clinical finishes. Veloso should have put the game to bed for Torpedo on the hour mark but inexplicably put his shot wide from just over 6 yards.
Shestyuk gave Dinamo life-line in the 68th minute, pulling a goal back after being put clear through the middle and two minutes later Sedko headed the equaliser.
There was more drama when Aleksey Antilevski went down in the area and a penalty was awarded to Torpedo. However, Stepanov made a fantastic diving save to push Oya’s penalty against the post and out to safety. With the crowd at fever-pitch Sedko curled a 25 free-kick around the Torpedo wall, and Bushma could only push it against the post and into the net.
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