So Round Twelve now, and another eight games for us to get tucked into, well it began on Friday evening as it does most weekends, here is what went down in Belarus…..
Round Twelve – Friday 5th June
Smolevichy STI 4 Gorodeya 1
The action began with a big game down at the bottom between winless Smolevichy and an out of form Gorodeya who sat just above their opponents in third bottom and eight points above the bottom two. You could argue that on paper the visitors form over the last few games was marginally better, they had drawn three of their last five, whilst Smolevichy had lost four of their last five, but if you look into those performances in more detail certainly the hosts had been showing signs of decent football without getting a result, whilst the visitors had been awful the previous week against Neman and were dogged at best in the previous weeks, so for me the hosts had a great chance here to grab their first win of the season. With fifteen minutes on the clock Smolevichy grabbed the lead when a cross from the left saw Barsukov send a superb downward header into the far corner, and then nine minutes before the break they doubled their advantage as after some lovely build up play they sent a cross into the six yard box and although Vakulich saw his initial effort kept out, the ball came back to him and he sliced an effort into the net as the home side were comfortably two goals up at the break. The visitors had been poor again for the second weekend running and needed a response quickly, but two minutes into the second period it went from bad to worse in comical fashion as an overhead kick from Makarov looked easy for the keeper until a defender stuck his head out to block the effort but instead headed it beyond his own keeper who was totally wrong footed, and it just about summed up Gorodeya’s evening. Smolevichy were totally in control and could have easily been five or six goals up as they attacked with pace and power and Gorodeya just could not cope with it. But from nowhere the visitors gave themselves a glimmer of hope with just under twenty minutes to go when Sajcic fired a free kick in off the post, although I felt keeper could have done a bit better, but for a few minutes afterwards Gorodeya had a brief spell that if they could of grabbed another, the most unlikely of comebacks was on. It was just that though, unlikely and brief, as the hosts finally settled this one and no doubt their nerves when Makarov fired a left footed effort into the corner of the net, and the hosts had their first three point haul of the campaign!!! They certainly did it in style and special mention to Poe down the right (and left briefly) who caused the visitors untold problems all evening, and it means that Smolevichy now trail third bottom Gorodeya by five points with a game in hand too, which is against Minsk who are only a further point down the road. The visitors were pretty poor again today and must be worried, that’s two awful losses in the last two weeks, and they welcome an out of form Slutsk to their Stadyen Haradzeya ground knowing they must improve and put in a decent showing there.
Round Twelve - Saturday 6th June
Slutsk 1 Torpedo BelAZ 1
First game of what I dubbed ‘Super Saturday’ due to their being four games back to back and some potentially decent contests, was an out of form Slutsk side who were hosting Torpedo. The hosts hadn’t won in four games after starting the season so well, and were in danger of slipping further down the table if they didn’t halt this slide, whilst the visitors had won three of their last five outings and were looking to go second. Torpedo’s form over the last couple of weeks had not been convincing though so they needed to try and improve that if possible, and the first half was very well contested with lots of meaty challenges flying in. The hosts probably had the better of the openings that did materialise though, but it was goalless at the break. Slutsk then had the better of the second period and should have been in front when Torpedo took the lead with twenty minutes remaining in the game as a corner came into the six yard box and Gorbachik got his head in it to squeeze it over the line. It was very tough on the home side, but this was how their luck was going lately and it looked like they were heading for a fourth defeat in five. They kept plugging away though to their credit and found a leveller just as the game ticked into stoppage time when Serdyuk rammed home from close range to salvage a point for the hosts. It was the least they deserved but it’s no win in five now as they slip to sixth after Saturday’s action, whilst Torpedo did go second although their second half showing was again unconvincing, but will most likely end the weekend third after tomorrow’s matches. Still they are in a good position.
Isloch 1 Ruh Brest 1
Game two of Saturday saw an Isloch side who had lost three in a row up against a Rukh outfit who themselves hadn’t won in three and were coming into this off the back of a heavy Brest derby defeat against Dinamo, so to say confidence amongst both sides wasn’t high would be an understatement. Both though knew wins could lift themselves into the top six, but it was another tight competitive encounter in a goalless opening forty-five minutes. Isloch probably shaded the first half on chances created, but both sides lacked a cutting edge despite them both attacking at every opportunity, however with just over twenty minutes of the match to go, Rukh edged in front, as Diallo got in behind and beat two defenders to the ball to prod beyond the keeper. Isloch’s reply though was instant, as a minute later they drew level, when Komarovski thumped a brilliant effort in off the post and we were all square again. Could anyone find a winner? Well deep deep into added on time Isloch so nearly won it, when a header was somehow clawed out by the keeper, although it looked very close to being over the line, some debate about that most probably, but it wasn’t given and the game ended all square. It did mean Isloch ended a run of defeats with a point which sees them slip to eighth after Saturday’s action, whilst Rukh slip to tenth as both sides are in a pack of mid table sides.
Slavia 1 Neman Grodno 3
Game three of Saturday’s action saw Slavia hosts Neman, with both having the chance to break into the top seven with wins. Slavia of course mounted a terrific comeback against bottom side Belshina last weekend to take a dramatic late win, whilst visitors Neman were looking for their third straight win after victories over Torpedo and Gorodeya in their last two outings. The visitors drew first blood in this one when Kadymyan played in fellow attacker Marusic who fired the ball through the legs of the keeper and into the net in the 19th minute, but on the half hour Slavia levelled with some brilliant individual skill from Narh, who twisted and tuned his way through a pack of defenders before seeing his effort at goal deflected beyond the keeper and into the net. The visitors then had a huge penalty shout just before the half time whistle, which for me looked like a clear penalty, but the referee thought otherwise and the sides went into the break all square in what was a very entertaining contest. In the second period the hosts won a free kick just outside the box, although replays suggest it may have been just inside, so 1-1 in terms of penalty shouts going against the sides too, and then the visiting keeper made a unbelievable double save to prevent Slavia from going in front. As the half went on though Neman looked threatening again and did retake the lead with fifteen minutes left after Marusic latched onto a lovely pass to belt a first time left footed effort beyond the keeper. Neman then probably should of wrapped up the game after missing chances for 3-1, but with four minutes to go they did eventually add a clinching third when Marusic broke the offside trap to stroll in and slot beautifully into the corner of the net for his hat trick and seal a third straight win for the visitors. Defeat for Slavia means they are ninth, whilst Neman are flying right now and are in seventh after Saturday’s action and within touching distance of the top five.
Dinamo Brest 6 Minsk 1
The final game of Saturday took us to Brest where hosts Dinamo were looking to make it back to back wins and climb into the top five after what had been a pretty difficult season so far, but last weekend’s Brest derby win over Rukh certainly gave them confidence coming into this one and hopefully for them something to build on going forward. Minsk were looking for back to back wins themselves after their return from isolation, and last weekend’s 1-0 win over Slutsk was a good win for them, so could they possibly net a shock win here? Well, after just six minutes they stunned their opponents when after home defender Kiki’s sloppy play allowed Khvaschinsky to pinch the ball from him, he laid in strike partner Yevdokimov who sent a neat finish into the far corner and just like last weekend, Minsk had an early lead to defend. Dinamo though were piling on the pressure but almost gifted the visitors another when an awful header back towards their own goal saw the dangerous Khvaschinsky get onto it but luckily for the hosts send a wild finish way off target. The hosts though were doing most of the pressing and finally broke through just before the half hour mark when a ball across goal saw Kiki slam home at the far post and make some amends for that mistake earlier. Dinamo then saw a deflected effort come back off the bar, but Minsk themselves had moments as I said with Khvaschinsky a menace for the hosts defence as the sides went into the dressing room level. Dinamo though kind of set the tone for how the second half would pan out when they grabbed the lead four minutes after the restart when skipper Milevski played the ball to Noyok and he fired a lovely effort into the far corner, and then in the 64th minute Milevski was creator again, with some delightful play down the left before teeing up Gordeychuk to fire home on the stretch into the far corner and the hosts now had a two goal cushion. Seven minutes later it was four as a deflected effort flew across the box and saw Laptev get his head on the ball and find the net, and then three minutes after that Dinamo added another as substitute Savitski, who netted two in the derby last weekend, grabbed his sides fifth when after he sent a close range effort against the woodwork, he volleyed it back into the net as Minsk were now looking a spent force and in trouble of being totally embarrassed here. Dinamo were playing some wonderful stuff and their sixth goal with eight minutes left was a beauty too, as Laptev turned provider by sending a wonderful diagonal pass over the defenders head and into the path of Savitski who duly lofted a brilliant finish over the keeper and the hosts were rampant. It’s now ten goals in two games for last year’s champions, and they now are second top scorers in the division with leaders BATE the only ones who have now scored more, and some way ahead of the others too, and they climb into fifth spot and only three points off those European spots, and starting to look a lot more healthy then they were a few weeks ago. Torpedo away up next, they must fancy their chances of victory there too and that would really put them amongst the top few if they were to happen. For Minsk it was a mauling for them in the second period, and they are 12th and six points above the bottom two, with a game in hand of course, although that game in hand is against one of those bottom two in Smolevichy. Could be a biggie that…..
Round Twelve – Sunday 7th June
Vitebsk 2 BATE 2
The final day of Round Twelve saw it begin with the league leaders travelling to Vitebsk and looking for seven straight wins to take them further clear at the summit of the division. Vitebsk though would be another tough test even though their lowly league position would suggest otherwise, and the hosts drew 3-3 with highflyers Energetyk last time out so knew how to cause the big boys some problems. And the hosts had also drew their last four outings were hard to beat, but BATE were gifted a 14th minute lead by home keeper Guschenko who instead of booting a ball clear that was rolling back towards his area, he decided to try and let it roll into the box so he could pick it up, but this allowed Nekhaychik to nip in just before he could do this and slot into an empty net. BATE are hard enough to play against as it is so to gift them an early lead in this way was a disaster, and just before the hour mark it was double trouble for the keeper as he came for a cross he was getting nowhere near, and with Guschenko in no mans land the ball was headed back into the path of Dragun who slotted into an empty net and BATE had a two goal lead. It was such a poor time for it to happen as the hosts were starting to put BATE under pressure early in the half, and this just totally killed any momentum they had, and thereafter you felt the visitors were going to cruise to their seventh straight victory. Well, enter into the fray BATE keeper Chychkan, who obviously didn’t want his opposite number to take all the flak, as with twelve minutes to go his terrible clearance was pounced upon by the hosts and Volkov fired into the bottom corner and suddenly the hosts had a lifeline from nowhere, and BATE had shot themselves in the foot and let their opponents back into a contest that was just drifting along to a comfortable away win. Diego was a menace down the left all day for the visitors, and he had gone close a couple of times earlier in the contest, but in the 89th minute he was to play a big part in what been a very unlikely leveller for his side only ten or so minutes before hand, as he got to the by-line before cutting back to Kesnofontov who swivelled and fired home from close range to deny the league leaders the win and grab a terrific point in the process. It was some finish to the game, and it meant BATE would only finish the Round two points clear of second placed Shakhtyor ahead of their mouth-watering clash in Borisov next weekend. As for the hosts this was a superb comeback and they do still fall to twelve but after five draws in a row they know if they can go one better next time round they could be climbing that table soon enough.
Belshina 0 Dinamo Minsk 4
Hosts Belshina are now the only team without a win this season after they saw Smolevichy win on Friday evening, so they knew that they really needed to follow suit in this one, and they were up against a Dinamo Minsk side who had a very mixed last five in terms of results so maybe it would be third time lucky at home for the hosts after coming so close to winning in their last two at their own ground. In fact, they led Slavia 2-0 last weekend before losing 2-3 in the final minute, something I feel might have taken a while to get over. After just four minutes of this contest though they fell behind after Klimovich curled a super effort into the far corner, and then right on half time Minsk grabbed a crucial second after hosts keeper Turanok decided to join in on a day of keeper mishaps but miskicking a clearance straight to the visitors, and the ball found it’s way to Danilo who struck in off the post. It was to get worse for Belshina and Turonok too as just five minutes after the break the keeper came flying out to claim a cross and got nowhere near it, and visiting centre half Goropevsek had the simple task of side footing home from a yard or so out. Minsk were now cruising and added a fourth twenty minutes into the second period when Vergeichik turned and fired home from inside the box, and the hosts were in danger of being totally blown away. This turned out to be the final goal of the contest though, and Minsk climb five places to eighth and mid table security for now, but as for the hosts, maybe they hadn’t got over the hangover of last week’s heartbreak, and they are now bottom, winless, and nine points off third bottom Gorodeya, it’s not looking too good for them right now.
Shakhtyor 1 Energetyk BGU 0
The final match of Round Twelve saw 4th placed Shakhtyor entertaining 3rd placed Energetyk with both sides knowing a win would take them closer to the leaders BATE after they threw away two points earlier in the day. The hosts came into this one off the back of three straight wins and hadn’t conceded since Round Five when Slutsk stuck two past them in forty five minutes, whilst the visitors had seen their winning run ended dramatically at home to Vitebsk last weekend in an enthralling 3-3 draw. This match would ultimately be decided after just twelve minutes when Lisakovic was played in and he fired a decent finish across the keeper and into the bottom corner, but at that stage you didn’t think that would be the only goal in the contest. Energetyk thought they had breached that impenetrable back line but saw a very tight offside call go against them, whilst Lisakovich saw an effort thump off the post as the score line remained 1-0 at the break. BGU came out positive early in the second period and forced the home keeper to tip over brilliantly, before another effort flew just wide of the post but as the game went on you could sense how tense it was on the pitch and how important this result was to both sides. BGU fired just over in another attempt before the hosts somehow did not double their lead when another shot across goal thumped against the post, as you felt if it went 2-0 it would surely be game over. BGU’s best chance though came five minutes from time when they got in behind that defence but saw the keeper stick a handout and divert it inches past the post. Shakhtyor had more chances to seal the deal but could not, however they did manage to see out the game and claim a big three points, which sets up next weekend’s match against BATE in Borisov quite nicely. Win that and they top the table by a point, but no doubt their defence, which has now gone an incredible 675 minutes without conceding, will be put under severe pressure there. As for Energetyk it’s now two games without a win but they are still in a decent position of fourth and ready to pounce if teams above them slip up, but they are now four points off leaders BATE after this latest round of matches although those European places are still well within sight.
Here is the latest table after Round Twelve…..
And here are next weekend’s fixtures…..
Round Thirteen
Friday 12th June
Minsk Vs Isloch (4pm)
Gorodeya Vs Slutsk (6pm)
Saturday 13th June
Neman Grodno Vs Smolevichy STI (2pm)
Torpedo BelAZ Vs Dinamo Brest (4pm)
Dinamo Minsk Vs Slavia (6pm)
Sunday 14th June
Energetyk BGU Vs Belshina (2pm)
Ruh Brest Vs Vitebsk (4pm)
BATE Vs Shakhtyor (6pm)
No doubt about game of the weekend, it is in Borisov as leaders BATE take on second placed Shakhtyor with a possibility that the hosts could be knocked off top spot. A BATE win though would see them potentially go five clear at the top, so there is a lot riding on this one, should be fun!!!! You also have 3rd Vs 5th as Torpedo host a resurgent Dinamo Brest as last years champions have the possibility of going level with third place and those European slots, and you also have the potentially entertaining encounter between an in form Neman Grodno and a Smolevichy side who will also be full of confidence after their first win which was done in some style too. Should be exciting, see you next weekend for Round Thirteen.
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