Belarus Premier League - Round Ten - 20th-24th May 2020

(BATE's Volkov mobbed by his teammates after netting stoppage time winner at end of extra time to win Belarusian Cup Final against Dinamo Brest on Sunday)

Round Ten of the BPL has been and gone, and the first trophy has also been handed out as well, but more about that later on, however, the latest round began back on Wednesday as last years champion Dinamo Brest hosted last season’s runners up and previous 13 years champions BATE in what was also a dress rehearsal to Sunday’s Cup Final, so who would win Part One so to speak??? Lets’s find out…..



Round Ten – Wednesday 20^th May

Dinamo Brest 1 BATE 3

You felt this was a big one already, the atmosphere inside the ground was loud, and both teams were looking to grab one up on their opponents prior to Sunday’s cup final.  It was a big game for both, but more so for the hosts, who have had a very indifferent start to their defence of last season’s title winning campaign.  BATE on the other hand were looking to put daylight between them and the chasing pack below as they chase a 14^th title in 15 seasons, and in the 31^st minute they grabbed the lead when Dragun headed home from a corner.  But Brest, who were playing some good football themselves, levelled five minutes before the break when a super move resulted in Milevski running onto a pass and poking a super effort into the top corner, and the hosts went into the break in good spirits with the home support in fine voice.  BATE though began to take control after the break and hit the post with a header, although they could of gone behind when the hosts somehow missed from point blank range,  and this was immediately followed with BATE grabbing the lead with just over fifteen minutes remaining as after the keeper had parried an effort into the path of Nekhaychik, the BATE attacker side footed home.  And with ten minutes left BATE sealed the points after Milic ran through and smacked an effort into the far corner from just inside the box, meaning the visitors now had a four point lead at the top whilst the hosts stay in mid table, nine points off the leaders now.  So round one to the visitors, what will happen in Sunday’s final???





Round Ten – Thursday 21^st May

Neman Grodno 3 Torpedo BelAZ 1

On paper this looked like being an away win, the visitors had started this season well, sitting second behind BATE and looking to close the gap back to a point after BATE’s win the previous evening.  For the hosts it had been more of a struggle, they sat third bottom and four points above the bottom two, but this is football so anything can happen right?  Well, Neman so nearly grabbed the lead in the first minute after a long range effort thumped off the bar, but in the tenth minute and after Neman had missed another golden chance to take the lead, Torpedo grabbed the advantage when Yusov swivelled and sent an effort across the keeper into the far corner.  Neman thereafter missed countless openings to get back on level terms as the hosts looked like the team who were trying to close the gap to top spot, and finally in the 43^rd minute they did draw level when Rassadkin headed home a cross at the far post.  The hosts were not as dominant after the break, but they still looked the likelier to grab a winner, and with twenty minutes remaining they got their noses in front in strange circumstances.  The hosts saw a header thump back off the bar and then Zabelin nod home the rebound, but their had been a foul after the first header had hit the woodwork, so after consultation with his assistant, they decided to award the penalty and disallow the goal, very odd.  Thankfully for Neman though Zhukovski kept his cool to dispatch the penalty, via the hand of the keeper, and the hosts did have the lead.  Had Neman missed it would of summed up their luck in this game, but they didn’t so they did have the lead they deserved, and they duly went on to seal the points a minute from time after a ball across goal was converted by Marusic.  So a superb win for the hosts which puts some more daylight between them and the relegation zones, whilst for Torpedo this was a very poor day at the office I what was a rather adject performance, and they stayed four points behind the leaders as a result.





Round Ten – Friday 22^nd May

Slavia 1 Gorodeya 1

These two were locked together in the lower half of the table, and both had identical records in the win, draw and loss stakes so a tight encounter was expected here.  A rather drab first forty five minutes saw the visitors net the only goal of the half which came on the half hour mark after a ball across the box found it’s way to Yaskovich who blasted home from close range, and the visitors held a slender lead at the break.  However, just past the hour mark that lead was wiped out in very controversial circumstances, after the referee gave one of the worst handball decisions I have ever seen.  With the defender turning his back towards the shot, and with his arms down by his side, the ball was fired at him from point blank range and hit his back and maybe a bit of the elbow, and the referee deemed this handball and also booked the defender!!!  It was an appalling decision, but the hosts took advantage as Chukhlei converted the spot kick, meaning the game eventually ended up finishing all square.  That penalty decision though, still haven’t got over it now, honestly on of the worst I’ve seen, blimey.



Shakhtyor 4 Belshina 0

The second and final game of Friday saw a home side looking to draw level with Torpedo BelAZ and Energetik BGU on eighteen points in second spot, whilst the visitors were bottom and looking for a first win of the campaign in their tenth attempt.  They had come close the previous couple of weekends so maybe this time round they could?  Well, the hosts looked good from the off and after seeing a goal ruled out for offside, did take the lead in the 21^st minute after Begunov stooped to send a headed effort into the net, and despite the visitors having their moments, the hosts looked the better outfit.  The game remained in the balance though whilst it remained 1-0, and it stayed this way until Shakhtyor, who had been backed by a very noisy home support, doubled their lead thirteen minutes from time as Podstrelov swept home a first time effort after a header into him to more or less seal the contest.  The visitors fell apart after this second goal went in and conceded twice more before the end, firstly when Podstrelov grabbed his second after a wonderful long range effort with nine minutes left, and then substitute Bodul added a fourth with two minutes remaining after receiving a pass, taking a touch and firing home from close range as the hosts ended the game in style.  The hosts then do join Torpedo and Energetik on eighteen points and challengers to leaders BATE, whilst Belshina remain bottom with just three points from their ten games in a performance that in the end was a disappointment following two previous weekends where they could of easily won both. 



Round Ten – Saturday 23^rd May

Smolevichy STI P-P Minsk

The scheduled midday kick off on Saturday was postponed until a later date as Minsk are still isolating after positive coronavirus tests over a week ago.



Slutsk 1 Ruh Brest 1

Hosts Slutsk have had a terrific start to this season, but the last couple of weeks have perhaps given them a reality check of sorts after defeats to Energetik BGU and BATE, the two sides who now occupy the top two positions.  They were up against a side in Ruh Brest who themselves had also started pretty well after being promoted from the first division last season in what was only their third year as a club.  Well the first period was goalless although not sure how after both teams missed some decent openings, with Brest hitting the woodwork twice to Slutsk one, but you felt the visitors were probably the better side in this one as the game went on.  But, with nine minutes to go Slutsk were the ones who took the lead and maybe the points when Semenov glanced home a corner and give the host a much-needed tonic after the two defeats previously.  This wasn’t to be the case though as Brest won themselves a penalty with three minutes to go after the keeper had taken out an opponent, and Vasilyev duly dispatched the spot kick and to be honest it was the least the visitors deserved.  Slutsk though did at least end a two-game losing streak but have now slipped to fifth spot, whilst Brest that is four draws in their last five as they climb into seventh spot.



Isloch 1 Energetyk BGU 2

Thus was billed as a potentially entertaining encounter as hosts Isloch, who could join their opponents on eighteen points in joint second with a win, took on Energetyk who could go clear second alone and only a point behind leaders BATE with a win themselves.  The hosts form over the last four weeks was mixed, with two wins and two defeats, whilst Energetyk were on a three-match winning run which had propelled them into the top spots of the division.  Isloch almost grabbed an early lead when striking the woodwork, but the visitors soon gained some control when taking the lead in the 13^th minute after winning a penalty which was dispatched by none other then spot kick king Yakshiboev who sent the keeper the wrong way.  The hosts recovered though and won themselves a spot kick of their own and Stephen emphatically converted to bring the hosts level, and it remained that way for some time, and it looked like the hosts won themselves a second penalty of the day when Kolodinski went down inside the box, but he had deemed to be simulating and was booked, which saw him subbed soon after, oops.  Anyway it looked as though we were set for another 1-1 draw on Saturday, but Yidchits had other ideas as he fired a blockbuster of a long range effort into the hosts net with the keeper rooted to the spot and win the game for the visitors in stoppage time, cueing mass celebrations amongst the BGU side.  A superb way to win any game and it saw them climb into second spot on their own, a point behind the leaders and their fourth win on the spin, whilst Isloch dropped to sixth after their third defeat in four.



Vitebsk 1 Dinamo Minsk 1

The final game of Round Ten saw a lower half clash between two sides on twelve points, although the home side had not won in their last four games having won three of their first five so they had dropped off slightly.  Minsk themselves had won two of their last four, including a slender win over Isloch last time out, but both were in mixed form for sure.  The game had a fast start and a classic looked on the cards, firstly when the visitors took the lead after a lofted pass got them in behind the defence and a square ball across goal was fired into the roof of the net by Bakhar in the fifth minute, but that lead only lasted fourteen minutes as the hosts levelled after a long ball saw Nicolaescu outpace a defender and also beat the keeper to the ball to loft beyond him and into the net.  But the game then failed to really ignite and became a rather physical tussle, with plenty of fouls and bookings, although some were questionable it has to be said!!!  No more goals meant a point each, and there was even a bit of afters following the final whistle, but this like the game that went before them, diffused fairly quickly, and it means both sides do gain places, with the hosts up to eighth and the visitors tenth.





So that completes Round Ten so here is how the table looks: -

BATE lead the way with Energetyk close behind, then the remainder are only separated by eight points down to 14^th, so a winning run for anyone could see them into the top places.  Then you have the bottom two who are starting to be cut adrift if they do not find wins soon.



Here are Round Eleven fixtures: -

Friday 29^th May

Torpedo BelAZ Vs Smolevichy STI (4pm)

Gorodeya Vs Neman Grodno (6pm)



Saturday 30^th May

Minsk Vs Slutsk (1pm)

Belshina Vs Slavia (3pm)

Dinamo Minsk Vs Shakhtyor (5pm)



Sunday 31^st May

Energetyk BGU Vs Vitebsk (2pm)

BATE Vs Isloch (4pm)

Ruh Brest Vs Dinamo Brest (6pm)



Next weekend should hopefully see Minsk back in action after two weekends away self-isolating, hoping everyone involved is ok and I am sure they are chomping at the bit to get back into action.  They take on a Slutsk side who have not won in three games following a brilliant start so could be an interesting introduction back into the season.  Also, next weekend sees the Brest derby as Rukh ‘host’ Dinamo, a team who have come from being formed as an amateur side four years ago against last seasons champions, couldn’t write it could you!!!





Now normally this would be it for this blog, but no, there was one more game this weekend, and it was the small matter of the Belarusian Cup Final between last years Champions Dinamo Brest and this season’s leaders and last years runners up, oh and winners of the league in the thirteen previous years BATE at the Dinamo Stadium in Minsk.  The two played only a few days before in the division and saw BATE take a 3-1 win, so could Brest gain revenge for that defeat and kick start what has been a rather poor defence of their title so far this campaign, or would BATE add yet another trophy to their bulging cabinet?  Let’s find out…..



Sunday 24^th May - Belarusian Cup Final (at Dinamo Stadium, Minsk)

BATE 1 Dinamo Brest 0 (aet)

BPL leaders BATE were of course big favourites to win their fourth Belarus Cup, and the first team to achieve that feat, whilst Brest were just going to try and compete with them and maybe, just maybe pull off a surprise.  After a positive start from the underdogs the favourites soon began to look like they were getting a foothold in proceedings and putting Brest under pressure.  BATE had the best chance of the opening forty five minutes when somehow putting wide from point blank range, but Brest remained well in this contest in what was a very competitive encounter, and late on in the half BATE lost defender Filipenko to what looked like a muscle injury, which was a blow to them no doubt.  


The opening half of the second period wasn’t the prettiest to watch, but after BATE brought on Milic midway through the second period, he almost made an immediate impact when poking wide, and after BATE saw three more openings fail to find the net, you felt they would be the ones to find a winner perhaps.  Dinamo brought on the big man Laptev, and he almost stunned BATE by firing just wide with a minute or two remaining, whilst Milevski claimed he was bundled over in the box, but the referee told him to get up as the underdogs looked on in dismay.   It all meant the game ended goalless and an extra half hour and maybe penalties would be needed to settle this one.


Dinamo so nearly took the lead early in the first period of extra time when curling a free kick against the bar, and then moments later BATE thought they had scored when a shot was well saved down low.  The end of the first period also saw a huge blow to Dinamo when Milevski crawled off the pitch in agony, it looked like a injury to his foot/Achilles maybe but he was in a lot of pain and could barely walk.   There were also some disagreements between the benches during the half time break of extra time, resulting in three yellow cards being dished out, it was all rather tense and tight out there.


Anyway, the final fifteen or so minutes, could someone find a winner before the dreaded penalty shoot-out?  If anyone was going to it looked like BATE would be the ones too, and they poked another golden opportunity wide before forcing a point blank save a few minutes after as they now looked the fitter of the two sides, as Dinamo saw three players at least go to ground with cramp as their fitness levels were being tested to the limit.  But could they hold on for penalties, which was no doubt what they were trying to do now, and it looked like they had done just that…..but with the clock now in the 122^nd minute and with seconds to go, BATE struck to break Dinamo hearts as a mad scramble inside the box saw the ball sit up nicely for Volkov and he volleyed into the net to send his team wild and saw the Dinamo players sink to their knees.  They had given everything in this one but BATE finally managed to break their resolve and win the cup for the fourth time.





Well what a dramatic end that was to what was not the most memorable finals it has to be said, but BATE probably deserved to win it but Dinamo should take a lot of heart from this into their league campaign now, starting with the Brest derby in a week’s time.  BATE’s season is kicking into action now and who could bet against them winning the BPL too this season?  It is going to take someone special to stop them, they just find a way to win which all champion sides do.  Will see you next weekend with Round Eleven of the season. 

Belarus Premier League - Round Nine - 15th/16th/17th May 2020

Yes, I decided to do a blog on Round Nine of the BPL, could not help myself could I.  Now there was a worry that last weekend would be my only weekend of enjoying some Belarusian Football when the worrying news came that a FC Minsk player has tested positive for Covid-19 which meant the whole squad were placed into isolation, so their Friday evening match at home to Neman Grodno was postponed.


Rumours were also circulating that Godfrey Stephen of Isloch tested positive too, but turned out to be just a rumour, and another player from the same squad, Alex Makas, had been absent for two weeks with ‘pneumonia’. 


Down at Torpedo BelAZ, rumours circulating told that Vladimir Bushma and Mikhail Afanasyev may also be infected, and then Isloch player Momo Yansane tweeted the Thursday before this weekend “I inform you that several members of our club are sick of Covid 19, I wish them good health. I want sanitary measures including quarantine for several days before any continuity. May God help! #coronavirus #Survivor”


Now after that claim the club came out and denied the claims of the player and all the players tested negative before the weekend, and the two Torpedo players mentioned were indeed sick but were not confirmed as Covid-19.


So, after all this the weekend was agreed to be continued as planned, apart from the FC Minsk Vs Neman Grodno game, and we wish the player in question and the squad all the best in the coming weeks.


We all know how serious the Covid-19 situation is and how threatening it is, but the authorities in Belarus obviously feel they are doing things the right way so the show must go on, for now at least, so let’s actually talk about the football that happened, starting with Friday afternoon’s Round Nine opener……



Round Nine - Friday 15^th May

Torpedo BelAZ 3 Gorodeya 1

Ironically one of the teams involved in the rumours, Torpedo, were involved in the opening game of Round Nine, and they did not seem to miss the two absent ill players as they went top for 24 hours after they defeated ten man Gorodeya.  The hosts went in front on the half hour when Velozu tapped home from a yard out after a low cross into the six yard box, and moments after things got harder for the visitors when Sazonovich scythed down Ramos in full flight and was shown a second yellow.  Torpedo dominated for the majority and doubled their lead nine minutes after the break after Velozu netted another when tapping home after a lovely move with the dangerous Ramos again involved, but with just over fifteen minutes remaining Gorodeya pulled one back to harbour thoughts of a remarkable come back when after being awarded a rather soft penalty, Sajcic rammed home the rebound after the keeper had saved the spot kick with his legs.  But, any thoughts of a recovery were dashed three minutes later as a poor defensive clearance fell into the path of Khachaturyan who rammed home the loose ball, and the points were headed for the hosts.



So it’s now five wins and only one defeat for the hosts Torpedo who sure look like mounting a challenge for the title, whilst for Gorodeya it’s four defeats from nine and only six goals scored in that time although they have only conceded ten in nine so if they can find a goal scorer they should be comfortably mid table perhaps.





Round Nine – Saturday 16^th May

Energetik BGU 2 Dinamo Brest 1

The opening game on Saturday saw hosts BGU defeat last year’s champions Brest as the visitor’s indifferent start to their defence of the title continued, much to the disgust of some of their fans.  The hosts, who won at previous leaders Slutsk last weekend, took the lead just before the break when a tricky cross was not dealt with by the keeper and Bakic headed into the empty net.   That lead was doubled early on in the second period by Yudchits, and although Brest saw Kislyak pull one back with the final kick of the game, the points went to the visitors who at that point rose to second in the table, level on points with the leaders, and looking very good right now.  For the visitors, it is a fourth defeat in nine as they reside in mid table, seven points off the leaders, and with some calling for the managers head already.  How things can change eh?  They have much work to do if they want to reclaim that title won only last season.



Shakhtyor 2 Slavia 0

The second game on Saturday saw the hosts take all three points after they defeated the eventual ten-man visitors.  The hosts are now in with a bunch of teams vying for the top few spots, and they lead at the break thanks to a 32^nd minute goal from Lisakovich, and with twenty minutes remaining the visitors were dealt a big blow thanks to an appalling decision from the referee. Malkevich lost his footing and fell into a tackle with an opponent, and both crashed into each other, with the opponent coming off worse.  After consultation with the his assistant, the referee gave Malkevich a second yellow and dismissed him from the field, motioning he had jumped into the tackle, absolutely ludicrous in my view, but they would have to play the final twenty with ten.  And with three minutes remaining the hosts finally sealed the deal when Balanovich drilled home, and the hosts are well placed in the top six following this result.  The visitors are in mid table.



BATE 3 Slutsk 0

The final game came from Borisov as the top two at the start of Round Nine did battle at the Borisov Arena and saw the hosts net goals through Milic, skipper Stasevich and Nekhaychik to go back top of the table by a point after losing it on Friday night.  Now visitors Slutsk had surprised a few with their electrifying start to the season and went into last weekend top of the pile having had won five of their seven games, but last weekend’s defeat at home to Energetik had seen them loose top spot to BATE, so this was a big one even if so early on in the season.  The hosts finished runners up last season and are determined to put that right this term, and they looked like a team with a point to prove early on as they flew out of the traps and led after just four minutes when Milic tapped home at the far post.  And the lead was doubled midway through the half when the brilliant Skasevich whipped a wonderful free-kick into the top corner and almost increased moments after when a header was ruled out, and for the opening half hour Slutsk could get nowhere near their opponents.   The latter part of the opening half saw BATE become sloppy and allow the visitors some hope of pulling a goal back, which they couldn’t do, and although the hosts didn’t really get out of first gear in the second period and allowed Slutsk a lot of the ball, they did add a clinching third twenty minutes from time as Nekhaychik ran onto a knockdown to thump home.  The visitors day was summed up late on as well when they had a corner which ended with the taker stumbling as he went to send the corner into the box, and it ended going off for a goal kick only yards in front of him, whoops.  BATE then will end the weekend on top of the pile for the second week running, whilst for Slutsk, who were top themselves only last weekend, could end the weekend as low as fifth having lost two in a row after only losing one of their first seven.  Still a win next week could see that all change once again.





Round Nine – Sunday

Belshina 1 Vitebsk 1

Sunday began with a game between bottom side Belshina and Vitebsk, a team in the lower half of the table.  The hosts were without a win in their eight games so far and it remained the same after this one as a Cesar goal twelve minutes from time cancelled out an earlier Glebko spot kick to see the points shared in this one.  The opening half was not exactly an inspiring half of football (a trend which continued throughout Sunday’s fixtures, but please read on!!!) although there were plenty of fouls and booking’s on offer, and when the hosts did have the ball in the net early in the second period, the flag had gone up.  But, in the 63^rd minute the bottom side won a penalty when a handball was given, and Glebko stepped up to emphatically convert, and the hosts sensed a first win was in sight, sadly though for them this was not forthcoming as in the 78^th minute a free-kick on the edge of the box was parried by the keeper, but straight into the path of Cesar who had the simple job of side footing into the empty net from close range.  The hosts then saw Yasiukevich sent off late on for a second yellow after a cynical foul on he edge of his own box, but it finished all square and it’s only a third point for the hosts, so it’s one more on the board as you say, but surely that first win is just around the corner.  The visitors point sees them sit in tenth, only four points off the top four and eight points above the drop zone.



Dinamo Minsk 1 Isloch 0

The second game on Sunday saw a Dinamo Minsk side who sat in fourth bottom at kick off taking on a side who could climb into fourth with a victory here.  But a Bakhar goal on the hour mark handed the hosts a priceless win which took them up to ninth and only six points from the European spots, showing just what three points can do in this league currently.  Minsk did more of the pressing in the opening half and did miss two decent openings inside the opening ten minutes, and although Isloch flashed a chance across goal, the visitors did most of the defending in a goalless opening forty five minutes.  Isloch’s band of supporters, one of whom was waving a Union Jack with the words ‘Isloch Loyal’ printed on it, made a lot of noise for so few folk, but their side fell behind on the hour mark when a through ball saw Bakhar run onto it and fire into the net via the keepers hand.  But with just over fifteen minutes remaining the hosts saw Olekhnovich dismissed for a second yellow after a lunge, and you wondered if the visitors could take advantage.  Well in short, no, they could not, and it meant the hosts held on for the three points, and it sees Isloch sit in sixth spot, just three points above their opponents now.



Ruh Brest 0 Smolevichy STI 0

The final game of the weekend and Round Nine saw mid table Ruh Brest up against second bottom and winless Smolevichy STI.  Now last weekend these two games had a combined goal count of fourteen, the hosts won 4-2 whilst the visitors lost 5-3 at home to leaders BATE in what was a very encouraging display from them.  Sadly neither sides were firing today and shared a poor goalless draw, meaning the sides earned a point a piece, but for the hosts, whose incredible rise from being formed as an amateur side four years ago to now playing in the top flight, they can still be happy with the start they have had after being promoted along with today’s opponents last season.  The visitors, although still winless after nine games and second bottom, do pick up another point though and are showing signs that they maybe could start to pick up points soon.





Here is how the table looks after the weekend’s games: -

So, it is BATE who lead the way, with Torpedo and Energetik right behind them and looking strong too.  Slutsk, who led the table at the start of last weekend are now fourth after two straight defeats to teams now above them, whilst down the bottom both the bottom two picked up a point and will believe that the first win is just around the corner after encouraging displays in the last couple of weekends.   And it is still tightly packed in the mid to lower half too, with a win sending you up a few places if results go your way.



Right here are the fixtures for Round Ten, which start on Wednesday evening for some reason this time round: -

Round Ten

Wednesday 20^th May

Dinamo Brest Vs BATE (5pm)



Thursday 21^st May

Neman Grodno Vs Torpedo BelAZ (5pm)



Friday 22^nd May

Slavia Vs Gorodeya (4pm)

Shakhtyor Vs Belshina (6pm)



Saturday 23^rd May

Smolevichy STI Vs Minsk (12pm, not sure if this will actually go ahead as Minsk are self-isolating)

Slutsk Vs Ruh Brest (2.30pm)

Isloch Vs Energetik BGU (4.30pm)

Vitebsk Vs Dinamo Minsk (6.30pm)



So those are the games to look forward to, Covid-19 pending of course!!!  Wednesday night’s game sees reigning champions Dinamo Brest take on last year’s runners up and current leaders BATE, and with the hosts having a rather indifferent start to the campaign a defeat here would see them fall nine points behind BATE, so this is already a big game for the hosts and also one where BATE can really lay down a marker, especially after there 3-0 home win over Slutsk.  Until then it is бывай as they say in Belarus.

Belarus Premier League - Round Eight- Sunday 10th May 2020

(BATE substitute Milic came off the bench to seal an eight-goal thriller against Smolevichy-STI and send them to the top of the table as a result)

Sunday saw Round Eight completed with four games, and it began with Isloch hosting bottom side Belshina:-



Isloch 2 Belshina 1

Goals from Yanushkevich and Yasane saw hosts Isloch to an unconvincing won over bottom side Belshina.  The hosts did ok in the opening half hour and saw two efforts chalked off for offside, but eleven minutes before the break they did make one count as Yanushkevich saw his header hit the post and rebound back off the keeper and into the net.  Belshina then had decent spells either side of the break and did have chances prior to the hosts taking the lead, but seven minutes into the second period they fell further behind when Yansane ran onto a through ball and lofted beyond the keeper to double his sides advantage.  The visitors, who had only picked up two points from their seven games so far, continued to try and find a way back into a game they probably felt they shouldn’t be behind in, and they gave themselves hope with five minutes to go when a cross was tuened into his own net by defender Papush.  They could not muster up a leveller though and it means Isloch go into fifth spot and the visitors remain bottom of the table.  Had Belshina had a cutting edge going forward, the result would most likely have gone their way, but it is another defeat for them.



So onto Game Two, and it saw Vitebsk hosting Shakhtyor in a mid-table clash: -



Vitebsk 0 Shakhtyor 0

Neither side could find the net in this one as it ended goalless.  Both had come into this contest having won three of their seven league games thus far, although neither had scored many so far and were around the one goal a game mark.  The first half saw few chances it has to be said, and whilst the second half saw more chances, with the visitors looking the most likely to find the net, it was the same story with neither side able to find that breakthrough.  The visitors did have to play out the final few minutes a man light after Khadarkkevich was given a second yellow for a foul outside his own box, but despite some late hosts pressure, the game ended with no goals and a point a piece for both sides.



Not a classic by any means that one, so we hoped for more in the next game which saw second bottom side Smolevichy-STI against last year’s runners up BATE who were looking to go top with a win, and it proved to be an absolute classic:-



Smolevichy-STI 3 BATE 5

Substitute Milic came off the bench to net a brace which finally decided this epic contest and sent visitors BATE to the summit of the division on goal difference.  Most expected a comfortable and routine away win, the hosts sat second bottom with just three points from their seven games whilst BATE knew a win would take them top, but inside the opening minute they were stunned as Smolevichy took a shock lead after a cross saw Barsukov side foot a super first time effort into the top corner.  BATE though responded in the best possible way and levelled twelve minutes later when Skavysh burst into the box and fired home, and just two minutes after that they turned it around when Stasevich headed home at the back post.  And nine minutes before the break BATE increased their advantage as Baga powered home a header from a corner after the home keeper had tried to come and claim the cross, and you felt at half time they were now in total control of this contest and could go on and win by a decent margin.  However, this was not to be the case, and BATE were left stunned again as the hosts fought back, firstly reducing the arrears ten minutes after the break when a ball back across goal was nodded home by Schegikovich, and then eight minuets later a stunning long range effort from Morelle thumped the inside of the post and into the net to bring the hosts level at 3-3!!! You thought surely the home side would not go on and win this one now, it would have been a remarkable result had they done so, but BATE regrouped once again and saw substitute Milic rise to glance home a free-kick with ten minutes to go to restore their lead, and then deep into stoppage time finally put this one to bed when Milic broke through to loft beyond the keeper and send his side to the summit of the league.  A truly wonderful game of football this was, and both sides deserve a lot of credit for entertaining us all. Marvellous



So after a truly wonderful contest, last years Champions Dinamo Brest hosted Dinamo Minsk in Sunday evenings showdown having to try and follow that, but this was a decent game as well even if it didn’t have as many goals to show for it, here is what happened:-



Dinamo Brest 2 Dinamo Minsk 1

Hosts Dinamo Brest saw an early second half header from Laptev seal a decent battle against Dinamo Minsk in the final game of Round Eight to take them sixth and only three points off the leaders. Brest, who won the league last season ahead of BATE, have had an indifferent start to this campaign, but knew a win could get them close to the leaders in what is a tight division, and they had the perfect start when a ball into the six yard box in the fifth minute saw Minsk defender Brucic put through his own net under pressure from striker Milevski who would of tapped home had the defender not been there anyway.  It should of got even better for the hosts midway though the half but Laptev somehow missed from ten yards out, and this was compounded moments later as Minsk went up the other end and saw Danilo slot home under the keeper, and the game was all square instead.  This gave the visitors, who had also had a similar start to their opponents this season, confidence and it gave way to a rather niggly end to the first half as tackles and fouls totted up.  Early in the second period though came the winning moment and it’s one the visitors keeper will want to forget as a fairly harmless ball into the box six minutes after the break saw him come and get nowhere near the ball, and it allowed Laptev to get ahead of him and nod into the empty net.  Minsk did their best to try and find a levelled but the hosts could easily of sealed it late on as well, but in what was a hard fought contest the hosts won out and leaves Minsk fourth bottom as a result.



Well that concluded all the action from Sunday and saw Round Eight completed.  Below is how the table looks after the weekend’s action: -

It is certainly a tight looking table, with only eight points between leaders BATE and third bottom Neman Grodno, so a win for anyone could see their positions improved dramatically if results went their way.  Exciting stuff!!!



Round Nine begins next Friday with two games, here is a full schedule for next weekend: -

Friday 15^th May

Minsk Vs Neman Grodno (4pm)

Torpedo BelAZ Vs Gorodeya (6pm)



Saturday 16^th May

Energetik BGU Vs Dinamo Brest (1pm)

Shakhtyor Vs Slavia (3pm)

BATE Vs Slutsk (5pm)



Sunday 17^th May

Belshina Vs Vitebsk (1pm)

Dinamo Minsk Vs Isloch (3pm)

Ruh Brest Vs Smolevichy STI (5pm)

All these games can of course be watched live at https://www.youtube.com/user/abffvideo



Big game of the weekend comes on Saturday at 5pm as First hosts Second so that should be something, so looking forward to another weekend of BPL action.  Until then hope you all have a good week and I’ll be back with my blogs next weekend in Round Nine.

Belarus Premier League - Round Eight- Saturday 9th May 2020

(Gabrielle Ramos receiving an award prior to Torpedo BelAZ game at Slavia after he was voted as best player in the division for April by Media/TV experts)

Saturday saw two more matches in Round Eight take place, and it began with Slavia hosting Torpedo BelAZ:-



Slavia 0 Torpedo BelAZ 0

It was not a classic it has to be said as neither side could muster up a goal in this one.  The visitors had begun the season not to badly, with four wins from seven games, and they knew a win here would propel then to the summit of the division ahead of Sunday’s matchups.  The hosts themselves knew they could climb into fifth spot with a win after a mixed start to their campaign.  The hosts probably edged the opening forty-five minutes but neither keeper had much to do as the half ended goalless, and after a lively start to the second period it soon became a defensive show once again as both sides attacking prowess was blunt today it has to be said.  Slavia had two brilliant chances in the second period but failed to take either, whilst Gabrielle Ramos, selected as the best player in the BPL for April by media and TV experts, had one of his lesser performances here, although he did miss a decent chance in the second period and then had a penalty appeal turned down later in the half.  Ultimately though it finished goalless and both sides picked up a point, sending Slavia into eighth and Torpedo into second on goal difference ahead of Sunday’s games.





So after that tough watch we were hoping for goals in the second game of the day, but it saw Neman Grodno hosting Ruh Brest, and with only ten goals between them in the first seven rounds of the competition, goals looked unlikely, however we were all very wrong:-



Neman Grodno 2 Ruh Brest 4

Goals from Vasilyev, Grechikho, a Sedko penalty and Andronic saw visitors Ruh Brest more than double their goals tally for the season after netting four against Neman Grodno.  The visitors came into this game having only scored three and conceded three in their seven games so far, whilst Neman had only netted seven themselves in that time, so goals were not expected in this one.  But, after only four minutes we had one, as a ball laid back to Vasilyev saw him fire a first time effort in off the post, and then ten minutes later it was two as Grechikho beat the offside trap to punish a static hosts defence to round the keeper and slot home.  And ten minutes into the second period the visitors were awarded a very soft penalty it must be said, and Neman were complaining that there had been a foul in the build too, so they were far from happy.  Nethertheless Sedko stepped up to dispatch the penalty and the game looked as good as over, and the visitors had doubled their season’s goal tally in an hour!!!  Fair play to the hosts though as they didn’t throw in the towel and pulled one back in the 68^th minute in spectacular style after Kadymyan fired a terrific effort in off the post, and briefly believed a comeback was on.  With five minutes to go one of Ruh Brest’s goal scorers Vasilyev was harshly sent off after being adjudged to have kicked the ball away and received a second yellow, but this ultimately didn’t affect the result and in the 90^th minute saw Andronic smash home a brilliant effort into the top corner to seal the deal.  There was still time for Neman to add another for themselves two minutes into stoppage time when Kadymyan grabbed his second of the game after following in to nod home a rebound after the keeper had made a save initially, but it was too little too late for the home side.  A very entertaining game and a six-goal thriller, not what anyone was expecting!!!  It sees Ruh Brest climb up to sixth ahead of Sunday’s games, whilst for Neman they remain third bottom and five points above the relegation zone ahead of tomorrow’s matchups.





So a goalless draw followed by a six-goal thriller, chalk and cheese with today’s games, and Round Eight comes to a head tomorrow with four games, these are listed below:-



Sunday 10^th May

Isloch Vs Belshina (12pm)

Vitebsk Vs Shakhtyor (2pm)

Smolevichy-STI Vs BATE (4pm)

Dinamo Brest Vs Dinamo Minsk (6pm)



Here is the table after today’s games: -

Well that’s all for now, ill be back with Sunday’s blog tomorrow evening, and remember, if you want to watch any of these games the link is https://www.youtube.com/user/abffvideo where you can find the live games, so go check it out.

Belarus Premier League - Round Eight- Friday 8th May 2020

(League Leaders Slutsk do battle with Energetyk-BGU in Round Eight on Friday)

This is my first blog for some time, two months in fact, after the football season in the UK was curtailed early due to the coronavirus outbreak.  But alas, I found out recently that the Belarus Premier League was pretty much the only league still playing, and all the games are live on YouTube as well!!! Fantastic, live football to keep me occupied during these dark and terrible times, well I’ve come in at Round Eight of the season, and today (Friday 8^th May) saw the first two games of the Round take place, starting with early league leaders Slutsk hosting fourth placed Energetyk-BGU….

Slutsk 1 Energetyk-BGU 2
Two first half penalties from the dangerous Yakhshiboev saw visitors BGU take the honours in this one and defeat league leaders Slutsk in the process.  The hosts had begin the season well and had five wins from their seven games thus far, but the visitors, knowing a win would take them into second for the time being, were the better side for the early exchanges and went in front after Yakhshiboev slotted home from the spot in the 17^th minute following a foul inside the box.  It then got even better for the visitors when another foul inside the box saw the same man convert another spot kick just before the half hour mark, and the hosts were being outplayed in this one.  Slutsk needed a spark, and they got it four minutes before the break when Muhammed ghosted in behind the defence to plant an unstoppable effort into the net, and the league leaders had a lifeline.  Things got tougher for BGU with twenty minutes to go when Mosokhanian was given a second yellow for a foul and dismissed meaning the visitors would have to play the remainder of the contest a man light, but despite this they held on to earn a decent three points against the early pacesetters of the division.  It means for now BGU slot into second place, a point behind Slutsk at the summit of the division, although both could be leapfrogged if results go against them tomorrow and Sunday.


The second game of Friday came from the Gorodeya Stadium as local side Gorodeya welcomed Minsk, so here is what happened here: -

Gorodeya 1 Minsk 1
The points were shared in this one after neither side could find a second half winner at the Gorodeya Stadium.  Both sides came into this one with mixed results after seven games, both having won three but sitting tenth and twelfth in the division, the upper bottom half of the table basically, but a win for either could see them climb into the top six.  After twenty minutes the visitors drew first blood when nice football saw Khvashinksiy slotted in and the striker sent a composed finish beyond the keeper into the net, but a minute before half time the hosts levelled after a corner was headed home well by Sajcic.  The superb half time dance music from the stadium PA certainly whipped up the vocal crowd, but neither side could muster up a winner although both did have openings in the goalless second period, but alas the game ended all square, moving the hosts up three places to seventh, whilst Minsk climb two places into tenth.  But both will most likely drop places after the weekend games.


So my first taste of Belarusian Premier League football, enjoyed it and look forward to the remaining games this weekend, which are as follows: -

Saturday 9^th May
Slavia Vs Torpedo BelAZ (1pm)
Neman Grodno Vs Ruh Brest (3pm)

Sunday 10^th May
Isloch Vs Belshina (12pm)
Vitebsk Vs Shakhtyor (2pm)
Smolevichy-STI Vs BATE (4pm)
Dinamo Brest Vs Dinamo Minsk (6pm)

Here is the table after today’s games: -

Well that’s all for now, ill be back with Saturday’s blog tomorrow evening, and remember, if you want to watch any of these games just go to https://www.youtube.com/user/abffvideo where you can find the live games, so go check it out.