November 5, 2022
Despite not having lost a domestic fixture since being formed three seasons ago, Dinamo BGU Minsk are still not assured of this season’s title as FK Minsk have been hanging on to their coat-tails, and indeed, a victory this weekend would leave Minsk in pole position for their first title since 2019, with two very winnable games remaining thereafter. One the other hand, a win for Dinamo would virtually ensure their retain their title.
In the two league encounters between the two sides so far this season, Dinamo have had the edge with a 3-2 home win early in the season, followed by a 1-1 draw at Minsk’s stadium. Dinamo were also victorious in the Cup Final, albeit only on penalties after a 0-0 draw after extra-time.
The fact that Minsk are still in contention is due to Dinamo surprisingly being held to a 0-0 draw in Dnepr Mogilev’s indoor dome, whereas Minsk have won all of their matches against sides other than Dinamo, and have a much better goal difference.
Dinamo have only conceded only four goals all season, three of which were against Minsk, with the other coming from Dnepr Mogilev, albeit in a revenge 7-1 victory. Minsk have conceded only 6 times, four to Dinamo and one each against Dnepr and Smorgon.
Dinamo have relatively struggled for goals this season following the departure Karina Alkhovik, last season’s top scorer with 33 goals, to Italian side Sassuolo. Viktoria Valyuk has stepped into the void to score 24 times, and notably scored twice as Belarus recorded a surprise 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic in the Euro 2022 qualifiers. Daria Stezhko has also contributed 24 goals, usually after coming on as a substitute, whilst 33 year old Anna Pilipenko has continued to impress in midfield with 19 goals and the ability to play the simple, incisive pass, and control play.
In addition to Valyuk and Pilipenko, Dinamo’s other current international are keeper Kovalchuk plus midfielders Anastasia Shuppo, Yulia Slesarchik and Anastasia Shlapakova. Anastasia Linnik is out recovering from a long-term injury, suffered in the Champions League qualifiers.
Dinamo’s defensive strength comes from their African contingent, which features, Cameroonians Collett Ndzana and Claudia Dabda and South African Ester Ramalepe whilst elegant Ivorian Nadege Cisse anchors the midfield.
For Minsk, Kenyan striker Wafula Nekesa led the league scoring charts with 31 goals but left Minsk to join Slavia Prague for their Champions League campaign. To compensate, Minsk signed Burkina Faso striker Salimata Simpore from Malabo Kings of Equatorial Guinea, of whom these diaries have previously discussed her controversial career whilst playing for Dinamo two seasons ago, and she had already scored 10 goals in 7 appearances.
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Minsk have also raided the Lokomotiva Moskva squad in their bid to win the title, with keeper Viktoria Nosenko, defender Elvira Ziyastinova and midfielder Yana Khotyreva joining on loan from the Russian club.
These diaries make no secret of their admiration for 18 year play-maker and dead-ball specialist Anastasia Pobegaylo, who has 34 goals this season from midfield and is surely destined for a career outside of Belarus. Despite being a regular full international, Pobegaylo was recently selected for the Belarus Under 19 team rather than play in two meaningless full international friendlies against Russia, to ensure Belarus qualified from their group to reach League A, which they did mostly thanks to a goal and two assists in a 4-0 victory over Georgia.
Melana Surovtseva has found the net 16 times, and Elizaveta Pinchuk has 12 goals to her name.
The match is being played on Saturday in Dinamo’s Juni stadium with a 14.30 local time ( 11.30 UK ) kick-off. The referee is Amin Kurgheli, is on the UEFA list, and generally recognized as one of the best in Belarus and the match is being streamed on the Belarus Women’s Football ( Женский футбол Беларуси ) YouTube channel.
Link to livestream : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caZFCRzRoGU
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