Past the half way stage of the Belarus Premier League
campaign now, and possibly the only league not to be halted by Covid-19,
however, as we see this weekend it’s certainly affected some of the sides in
this division over the course of the season.
For more on that and how the weekend went, here is my review:--
Round Sixteen – Friday 3rd July
Slavia 3 Slutsk 1
The round began with a rather big game in the lower half of
the division, Slavia and Slutsk both sat on 18 points which was only four
points above third bottom Minsk, so they knew how big three points would be to
just put some daylight between them and that relegation play-off position. The hosts had lost three of their last four,
whilst the visitors poor form over the last few weeks is well documented, which
resulted in their manager departing this week.
Well, it didn’t start to well for the visitors either, as on five
minutes they fell behind when after they failed to clear their lines following
a shot at goal, Slyusar thumped home from close range, and then six minutes
later Slavia led 2-0 when they were awarded a penalty which Slyusar converted,
and it looked like another long afternoon for the visitors. Slutsk though were handed a lifeline on 21
minutes when a cross into the box was poorly punched by the keeper straight to
Semenov who just headed the ball back past him into the net, and it meant the
hosts only had a slender one goal advantage heading into the break. Then things really did get interesting, as a
thunderstorm struck Mozyr and the pitch got more and more waterlogged and
despite their being huge puddles in many places and the flashes of lightning
around the ground, they played on in farcical circumstances and if I’m honest
rather comical ones too. The players
were ankle deep in water in certain places and you could hear the crowd
laughing when a player got ‘tackled’ by a puddle and slide tackles saw players
disappear under big splashes of water.
It was hilarious but they are obviously hard core in Belarus so no
chance of abandoning the game, and both sides actually did try and adapt to the
conditions, but it was Slavia who finally settled this one with fifteen minutes
left as after the keeper had saved, Shevchenko was on hand to fire the ball
above the surface, which would have stopped the ball going in no doubt, and
into the gaping goal to seal a big three points for the hosts and heap more
misery on the visitors who cannot see where their next point is coming from
now.
Smolevichy STI 3 Dinamo Brest 3
Ok, we must start with the news regarding Covid-19 and
Dinamo Brest, and this week several key personal of the visitor’s side came
down with symptoms of the disease, meaning last years champions would be
without several regular starters. Dinamo
put in a request to the league to postpone the fixture, but they were told they
had to fulfil the fixture, and although they still had a fairly decent starting
eleven, their bench was mainly made up of academy players. Now
earlier in the season Minsk were quarantined for two weekends after two personal
tested positive, yet when the same thing happened to Torpedo BelAZ a few weeks
ago, they had to play. Now weather
testing positive and just having symptoms is different I do not know, but it
certainly raised a talking point prior to kick off. The hosts must of felt they had a big chance
to beat a side they may not have fancied to beat had they been at full
strength, and they knew a win would see them climb to just a point behind third
bottom Minsk ahead of the weekend fixtures.
Dinamo themselves knew a win would see them leap into second for the
time being, and as I said their starting eleven was still decent, and in the
third minute they grabbed the lead as Krivets played a one two before firing an
effort in off a defender, and then three minutes before half time they doubled
their lead as after the hosts had headed a goal bound effort onto the bar, the
ball fell for Pavlovets who couldn’t miss from virtually on the goal line. Dinamo could have been further in front
before their second goal but for the hosts keeper, and although they saw
Smolevichy strike the bar late on in the half, they were good value for their
2-0 half time lead. The hosts though
were to be level within fifteen minutes of the restart, firstly pulling one
back three minutes into the second period when after a free kick was tipped
onto the post, Vakulich was on hand to follow in to net the rebound, and then
in the 56th minute the hosts were awarded a penalty which saw
Mukamedov fire home, and were were all square going into the last half
hour. Then with just over ten minutes to
go Smolevichy went ahead with an incredible strike from Butarevich, firing home
from thirty yards out into the bottom corner, and they could dream of a famous
victory. Sadly they were still dreaming
and caught napping barely two minutes later when they ended up hauling down
Milevski inside their own box for visitors spot kick this time, and Gordeychuk
duly fired home the penalty and the game ended up finishing 3-3. It brilliant game of football and no puddles!!! Or lightning or winds but just plain
brilliance from both sides in an enjoyable game to watch. It also meant a point each, which is a point
more on the board for both, although I reckon the hosts would have been the
happier at the end of it all. Should it
have been played at all after the problems Dinamo have encountered this week,
maybe not, but it was, a boy was it a belter!!!
Round Sixteen – Saturday 4th July
BATE 0 Energetyk BGU 1
How would leaders BATE respond to seeing their twelve-match
unbeaten run and unbeaten home record ended last weekend by Dinamo Minsk? They would be up against a side in Energetyk
who could end the day just a point behind them in the standings if they grabbed
a win here in Borisov, and this after ending their winless run and 319 minute
goal drought last weekend by thrashing Slavia with ten men. And with the hosts having only won one of
their last four games, that win a lucky one at bottom side Belshina, defeat
here or even a draw would heap more pressure on the title favourites. It looked like it would be a long afternoon
for the visitors though when they conceded a penalty for what looked like a
harsh handball decision, and to make matters worse defender Svirepa was given a
second yellow after only twenty minutes meaning for the second weekend in
succession they had to play a large part of the game with a man light. So BATE had the chance to take the lead from
the spot and possibly control the game from their on in but keeper Sadovskiy
made a brilliant one handed save to tip the ball over the bar and prevent the
visitors from going behind. And then
three minutes later Umarov struck a wonderful free kick into the hosts net and
Energetyk had the lead, and they so nearly doubled their lead moments later
when Umarov struck another brilliant free kick against the post as BATE were
stunned. It was a period of the game
that probably set the tone for the remainder of the contest, and despite a lot
of pressure from the hosts thereafter they found themselves up against a young
hungry side who dug in and protected their goal, albeit with some poor
finishing from the hosts, and with ten men for seventy minutes against the
leaders in their own back yard came away with a superb three points and made it
back to back wins as well. BATE now have
only one win in five and have suffered back to back defeats, and both at their
Borisov Arena too, and could end the weekend level on points with Shakhtyor and
are now only a point clear of Neman and today’s opponents Energeytk as the sides
pile up behind them, oh and Neman have a game in hand too!!! For Energetyk as I touched on they are now
only a point off the leaders as their season is now well and truly back on
track.
Gorodeya 2 Vitebsk 2
Hosts Gorodeya have had some promising performances in
recent weeks, but in those five weeks only one resulted in a win, with the
other four all defeats. They were
disappointing last time out losing at home to Isloch, and they now take on a
side who will prove a very difficult side to crack in the shape of Vitebsk who
themselves saw a seven match unbeaten run end last weekend. Gorodeya need some points though and at kick
off were only a point above Minsk in third bottom and four above second bottom
Smolevichy, whilst the visitors were another six points above them in the mid
table pack looking to try and break into the top half. The visitors dominated the early exchanges
and took the lead just past the half hour mark when Nicolaescu was played in
and his finish was deflected over keeper Dovgyallo, but despite the visitors
dominance the hosts managed to level with their only real chance of the first
period when Sajcic side footed home from inside the area seven minutes before
the break. Vitebsk had more chances
before the half was done and should have been out of sight by the break, but
they went into the second period still level, and then saw the hosts start the
second half better and could easily have gone behind, however just before the
hour mark Santos brilliantly controlled a cross field ball and in doing so went
past his marker and then finished well beyond Dovgyallo via a slight nick off a
defender and Vitebsk had the lead once again.
But the hosts were not to be denied a point as with three minutes
remaining a cross found substitute Kozel whose effort was half saved by Soroko,
but the ball continued towards goal and saw Arkhipov there to bundle over the
line and rescue something from the game for the hosts. Gorodeya are showing good fighting qualities
now although despite this had lost four of their last five, so this point will
give them heart and although they remain in a dogfight down at the bottom this
point could be crucial. Vitebsk would
have been disappointed not to have won this one though after a very dominant
first period, and to concede late on as well would have been very frustrating
for them and they remain around the mid table region after this result.
Neman Grodno 1 Isloch 0
Hosts Neman are arguably the best side in the division right
now, and they certainly are on form having won their last six games, and there
win over West Derby rivals Dinamo Brest last weekend certainly made their lofty
perch in the table even more creditable, sitting third at the beginning of the
weekend and only four points off the lead, with a game in hand to boot. Isloch themselves have had a rather mixed bag
of results recently, but they are unbeaten in four games and won away at
Gorodeya last time out, so they would certainly give the hosts a run for their
money as they chased a top six position.
The opening half didn’t see an awful lot of goalmouth action although
the home side had the best chances that did happen, heading over from close
range before forcing a brilliant save from Khatkevich late on in the half,
whilst Isloch’s only real chance fell to Yansane, who had not left for
Shakhtyor after last weeks win, who could only fire wide of the target. Both teams huffed and puffed in a tight
second period but it looked like this game would end goalless, that was until
the final minute of normal time when a ball forward saw Isloch keeper Khatkevic
for some reason come charging out of his goal and way outside the box to try
and get to a ball he was never going to get to, and Neman striker Marusic got
their ahead of him and from a tight angle managed to slot the ball into the net
and send the hosts wild. It was a moment
of madness from the visiting keeper and it had cost his side a point, and it
meant Neman have now won seven games in a row, a remarkable achievement and
turnaround from the first few weeks of the campaign, and sees them into second
for now and only a point behind leaders BATE with a game in hand on them
too. Exciting times for the yellow and
greens, whilst for Isloch their four match unbeaten run ends here in
disappointing fashion after working so hard to try and claim something from
this contest only to give it away late on.
They remain in mid table having picked up 23 points from their sixteen
games so far.
Round Sixteen – Sunday 5th July
Minsk 2 Belshina 2
This was a big game in the bottom three, a win for Minsk and
their first in five would see them climb out of the relegation play off spot
and above Gorodeya who would replace them in that spot, but also put six points
between themselves and the bottom two and eleven ahead of bottom side
Belshina. The visitors however would
close the gap to just five points to third bottom Minsk with a win and give
themselves real hope of making a dramatic escape from relegation, so it was a
rather important contest in the capital.
Minsk had the first chance to take the lead in the 13th
minute when they were awarded a penalty but Vasilyev saw hit spot kick strike
the post, however, just four minutes later then were awarded another penalty
and this time the same man made no mistake by converting the kick and putting
Minsk into the lead. Belshina though
fought back to level just past the half hour mark when a corner found Nechaev
totally unmarked at the far post to head home and send the sides in level at
the break. Minsk though retook the lead
eleven minutes into the second period when after a header had been saved,
Gribovskiy was on hand to pounce from close range, but Belshina were not to be
denied a point when Nivaldo, who had missed a great chance earlier in the half,
fired home from inside the box and it meant that both sides earned a point,
leaving Minsk in the relegation play off spot and a point behind Gorodeya,
whilst Belshina remain bottom and need to start picking up some wins if they
are to give themselves a realistic chance of survival.
Torpedo BelAZ 1 Shakhtyor 4
These two knew at kick off that three points would bring
them oh so close to the leaders BATE at the top, Torpedo would go just a point
behind them with a win and join Neman and Energetyk on 29 points in what is becoming
a log jam behind the Borisov side, whilst a win for the visitors would see them
go level with BATE at the top. Anyhow what is certain is they would be level on
points with the leaders with three points, so this was another big game on what
was a Super Sunday no doubt. The visitors
were the ones who grabbed an early advantage when Ivanovic swept home from inside
the box after twelve minutes but the hosts got more and more frustrated with
the man in the middle, coming to a head when late on in the half visitors
keeper Gutor came out and fouled an attacker, who I think was either Khachaturyan
or Veloso (I can’t remember who!!!) way outside the box, and the referee only
gave a yellow card, much to the dismay of the hosts who surrounded the referee
as they felt it was a professional foul and a red. Their mood was dampened further twelve
minutes into the second half as well after Shakhtyor doubled their lead after
Lisakovich got in to round the keeper then then a defender before putting the
ball into the net from close range, but with thirteen minutes remaining the
hosts gave themselves a life line when Premudrov rose to head across the keeper
into the far corner and give Torpedo real hope of a comeback. But as the hosts were putting pressure on
their opponents the visitors broke out and ended up feeding Lisakovich who sent
a first time effort into the far corner to seal the contest with seven minutes
to go, and with the hosts still reeling from that Shakhtyor added a fourth to
put gloss on the score line when Podstrelov beat the offside trap and finished
well beyond the keeper and send the visitors level with BATE at the top of the
standings. Torpedo are in sixth but only
four points off the leaders as the top of the table is as tight as ever!!! This was a real statement from the visitors
though.
Ruh Brest 1 Dinamo Minsk 0
Dinamo Minsk have been in good form over the last few weeks
and are unbeaten in four with three of those wins, including last weekend’s
brilliant 2-0 in Borisov against the leaders BATE, which has propelled them up
the table and to within earshot of the top six, whereas Rukh had been
struggling somewhat over the last few weeks after a good start to their season
which saw them slide dangerously towards the bottom few places. The hosts though did pick up a vital win last
time out though too put a bit of daylight between themselves and the bottom three
spots, however they know they must keep their foot on the gas as things can
change quickly. In truth this contest
wasn’t a classic but was well fought as both sides battled to get an advantage,
and the only goal of the game came three minutes before half time when Bodomolski
converted a decent effort from inside the box as a shot had been blocked into
his path. It was a big goal though as it
turned out and handed Rukh back to back victories to send them into the mid table
pack and seven points above Minsk in that third bottom position, albeit Minsk do
have games in hand. For Dinamo it was
the end of a four match unbeaten run which has seen them win three, and after
last weekend’s high of winning in Borisov, they crash back to earth with a bump
and remain seventh and three points outside the top six.
Here is the latest table after the weekend’s action:-
The top six are now separated by just four points and it is
shaping up to be one hell of a title race in Belarus that’s for sure!!! Neman could go top with the game in hand
providing they keep winning, and with seven wins in a row they are playing with
such confidence now. And after next week’s action we could see
either BATE, Shakhtyor, Neman or Energeytk top the standings!!! It is so so close up their now. It’s quite close between Slutsk, Gorodeya and
Minsk for that relegation play-off spot, only three points separate 12th
to 14th, but remember Minsk have those games in hand still so this
could prove crucial, whilst Smolevichy are only four points behind Minsk now so
any slip ups could see them catch the ones above and make it rather
interesting!!!
Here are Round 17’s fixtures which take place this
weekend coming up:-
Friday 10th July
Smolevichy STI Vs Isloch (4.30pm)
Dinamo Brest Vs Slutsk (6.30pm)
Saturday 11th July
Belshina Vs Torpedo BelAZ (2.30pm)
BATE Vs Slavia (4.30pm)
Shakhtyor Vs Gorodeya (6.30pm)
Sunday 12th July
Energetyk BGU Vs Ruh Brest (2.30pm)
Dinamo Minsk Vs Minsk (4.30pm)
Vitebsk Vs Neman Grodno (6.30pm)
Minsk derby at the weekend, Dinamo looking to avenge for
their defeat earlier in the season when they lost 3-2 in the second round of
the season, but rumours suggest Dinamo are having some financial issues behind
the scenes so could this give Minsk an advantage with the players maybe
affected by this perhaps? Also, some
rather worrying news coming out of Smolevichy too where rumours have been rife
that they are about to resign from the division due to their own financial
issues and reports saying that the players want to leave etc etc. This comes after some comments from manager
Brasevich although not sure if these were taken out of context, but I sincerely
hope that they are not in the state some claim off the field as they have
certainly picked up recently and are showing form that could get them out of
the relegation spots. Watch this space
as they say for more on that…..
