November 5, 2022
Dinamo all but wrapped up the Belarus WPL title with a dramatic come-back victory to break the hearts of FK Minsk. With just over 5 minutes remaining Minsk deservedly led and had one hand on the trophy, but two late goals turned everything around.
There was little to write about in the opening forty minutes as the game was played at a frenetic pace, with the ball usually being surround by a number of players from both sides fighting for possession.
In the opening five minutes Dinamo launched two crosses into the visitors 6 yard box, but both were impressively claimed by Minsk keeper Nosenko. What little quality passing play that occurred tended to come from Minsk, with Surovtseva prominent on the left hand side.
After 10 minutes, Pobegaylo got to the by-line after a quick throw by Simpore but her pull-back went behind Simpore. Surovtseva picked up the loose ball and laid off to Girchits, whose long range effort was easily blocked.
After out-muscling Dabda, Simpore then went down all too easily but referee Amin Kurgheli was unconvinced and waved play on. The tackles continued to fly in, the UEFA referee exerted calm authority, and kept his cards in his pocket.
A nasty looking collision occurred on the half-hour, as Simpore slid into Cisse as the Ivorian was making a clearance, and both players ended up writhing in agony on the floor. However, both miraculously recovered.
The first goal of the game arrived in the 41st minute. Khotyreva flicked a pass from Djukic over the Dinamo backline and although Ulasevich charged off her line, Simpore got to the ball first to steer over the keeper and into the unguarded net from just inside the area to give Minsk the lead, and act as a cue to wild celebration by the players and the Minsk bench
Dinamo’s response was to win a corner, but Shlapakova’s delivery was into the stand behind the goal to leave Minsk deservedly leading at the interval.
Dinamo came out strongly for the second half and forced two corners in the first five minutes, the second of which was well punched away by Nosenko. However, the pressure was short-lived and Minsk embarked on their best spell of the game.
Djukic did well to win the ball on half-way and spray a pass wide to Khotyreva, but the Russian’s shot from the edge of the area was weak and straight at Ulasevich. Pobegaylo then robbed Ndzana of possession but again the long range effort was easily saved. Surovtseva then sent a dangerous free-kick into the danger zone, but again the Minsk keeper was up to the task and saved under pressure from Girchits. Shortly after Simpore engaged in more theatrics, going down as if shot by a snipper in the stands when trying to challenge Dabda.
With an hour gone, Dinamo created their first chances of the game. A low corner was flicked on by Valyuk to Shuppo on the edge of the area but her goal-bound shot was deflected by Novikova off for a corner. From a short corner, Ndzana crossed to the back post where Cisse rose the highest but her header was blocked at close range. Nosenko then had to alert to beat Valyuk to a long ball out of defence at the expense of a throw-in.
Minsk threatened again in the 64th minute. Pobegaylo won the ball in midfield and offloaded to Khotyreva to run from close to half-way to the edge of the Dinamo area. As Pilipenko slid in to make a tackle, Khotyreva fell to the ground. Again, referee Kurgheli was unimpressed and brandished a yellow card to the Minsk player for diving.
Kurgheli also wasn’t fooled a minute later when Simpore hit the deck in the area after running onto a long ball, but his patience with the Burkinabe striker finally ran out when Simpore made a late tackle on Dabda in the 73rd minute. This was shortly after Simpore had clattered into Ulasevich after the keeper had come out of her area to make a clearance.
Dinamo were increasingly playing long balls into the Minsk half but Novikova and Krasikova easily dealt with these. Ndzana sent another dangerous cross from the left wing, but Nosenko produced another great catch. Pilipenko then crossed to the far post but Dudko’s header was comfortably saved.
With less than 10 minutes remaining Khotyreva latched onto a poor defensive header by Ndzana but her attempt on goal was poor and sailed harmlessly wide.
Dinamo gambled and took off defender Sitnikova and brought on striker Stezhko. Almost immediately Shuppo chipped a ball into the Minsk area for Stezhko to chest control, but a last ditch tackle by Novikova averted the danger at the expense of a corner. From the corner, Dabda managed to get a head to the ball, which then bounced slowly just inside the post for a scrappy equalizer.
Minsk were unable to mountain any serious challenge to the Dinamo goal to revive their title challenge, and in the third minute of added on time, Ndzana’s optimistic long range effort went to Pilipenko, and with Minsk appealing for offside, the veteran playmaker controlled the ball and then placed into the top corner from 15 yards to cap an amazing come-back for Dinamo.
Minsk can probably feel aggrieved at losing a game in which they were the better side for large periods but Dinamo showed the resilience of champions to turn the result around at the death, and in doing so, virtually clinch the title. Dinamo are now four points ahead of Minsk with two matches to play, and it is unthinkable that they will slip-up against either ( or both ) ABFF U19 and Dinamo Brest.
Highlights : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSVjuSL5lPQ
Dinamo BGU Minsk : Ulasevich – Slesarchik, Sitnikova ( Stezhko ), Dabda, Ndzana – Shlapakova ( Ramalepe ), Cisse, Pilipenko, Nikolaenko ( Dudko ), Shuppo ( Tatarin ) –Valyuk
FK Minsk : Nosenko – Bogdan, Novikova, Krasikova, Ziyastinova- Khotyreva ( Zubko ), Pobegaylo, Djukic, Girchits ( Asaulo ) – Surovtseva ( Pinchuk ), Simpore
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