Friday 10th July
Smolevichy-STI 3 Isloch 1 (1,059)
Saturday 11th July
Belshina 2 Torpedo BelAZ 1 (529)
BATE 1 Slavia 1 (2,507)
Shakhtyor 4 Gorodeya 1 (1,057)
Sunday 12th July
Energetyk-BGU 1 Rukh Brest 8 (253)
Dynamo Minsk 1 FC Minsk 0 (1,019)
Vitebsk 0 Neman Grodno 0 (965)
SMOLEVICHY-STI 3 ISLOCH 0 - A DEBUT TO REMEMBER FOR LOZHKIN
After the week that the home side had had with financial problems reported and several of the key players leaving along with the manager not many people gave The Smoles a chance at home to Isloch - Most bookmakers had stopped taking bets on the game as it was thought it was given that The Wolves would confidently win.
Smolevichy new Manager Aleksey Mikhaylov lined up with just five players from their starting line up who started the previous game against Dynamo Brest.
Their starting XI had just 66 starts in the 2020 Belarusian Premier League compared to Isloch's total of 137 prior to kick off.
The visitors included their new signing from Torpedo Zhodino Dmyto Yusov who was making his debut for Isloch and also centre forward Momo Yansane who had been subject of a rumoured transfer to Shakhtyor Soligorsk during the week.
The star of the show for The Smoles was undoubtedly 18 year old centre forward Vladislav Lozhkin who had played just 22 minutes for Dynamo Minsk in two substitute appearances against Tropedo Zhodino and Rukh Brest earlier in the season along with games for their reserve side. He is one of the four players to join on loan until the end of the 2020 campaign.
Lozhkin scored his first goal on 21 minutes when breaking clear of a very high Isloch back line he was able to round the keeper and roll the ball in to the net. It got even better for him on 35 minutes when he received the ball on the left hand side of the box and dribbled the ball around at least three Isloch defender to then send a shot in the corner of the net to make it 2-0. It was a fantastic goal.
It was dreamland for the home supporters when on 78 minutes Aleksandr Dzhigero netted a third after some near interchange play to put him one on one with the keeper. Isloch scored a late consolation goal via Aleksandr Makas in injury time.
The Smoles next game comes next weekend when they travel to Vitebsk which will be a very tough game for them.
THREE VERY IMPORTANT POINTS FOR BELSHINA BROBRUISK
The result of this game and the Smolevichy game earned the headline "выхадныя засмучэнні" which translates to 'The weekend of upsets' as Belshina got only their second win of the season with a well deserved victory over a Torpedo side who never really got going despite going 0-1 very early in the game on 6 minutes via Nikita Kaplenko's first goal in the Belarusian Premier League - He has played over 80 times for Tropedo and Dynamo Minsk.
Belshina hit back after just 9 minutes when Leonid Kovel scored from close range after a cross from the right hand side. In the second half it was Sergey Glebko who made it 2-1 from the penalty spot after a foul in the box on 50 minutes.
Torpedo got the chance to make it 2-2 with their own spot kick when Gabriel Ramos was fouled just inside the box on 63 minutes. The Brazilian who has been one of the stand out players in the division this season unfortunately scooped the ball over the bar when taking the kick he appeared also to lose his footing - He won't want to watch it back again I don't think.
Belshina held on for a famous victory and it gives them hope going into next Friday evening's highly important game at Gorodeya who are just six points above them in 13th place.
BATE DROP POINTS FOR THE THIRD WEEKEND IN A ROW
BATE Borisov who are still currently the bookmaker's favourites but are in far from title form as they only have one win in their last six league games where they have also let in eight goals. Their opponents on Saturday were Slavia Mozyr who have won twice against BATE (in the league and cup) previously this season. The visitors defended well but BATE eventually scored on 74 minutes when Evegeni Yabolonskiy's shot from outside of the box rebounded off the post and off Slavia's unlucky goalkeeper Mikhail Baranovskiy into the net. Just a couple of minute's later BATE's goalkeeper Denis Shcherbitskiy slid into Slavia substitute Gleb Shevchenko in the penalty box and caught his leg for the visitor's to get a penalty kit. Shevchenko has become a cult figure amongst the Belarusian football fans around the world with his nickname 'Dreadz' referring to his hairstyle. Andrey Chuckhley scored the resulting penalty kick and the game ended frustratingly for the home side all square.
With Shakhtyor (see below) now top of the table the pressure is really on BATE manager Kirill Alshevskiy who have only been in the hot seat since January. BATE have a difficult looking trip to Rukh Brest next weekend.
SHAKHTYOR GO TOP - THE AKHIPOV DERBY
Shakhtyor are now top of the table following their confident 4-1 victory over Gorodeya is a game which was dubbed 'The Arkhipov Derby' in reference to the Russian Arkhipov twin brothers.
Artyom Akhipov played two games for Gorodeya early in the season as well as thirteen games in the 2019 season scored for Shakhtyor in the 38th minute.
Sergey Akhipov scored his sixth goal this season for Gorodeya in the 50th minute. Both are on loan form Russian Premier League club FC Tambov.
The result was never in doubt for the home side with the final score being 4-1 - New signing (from Energetyk) and debutant Jasurbek Yaxshiboev came off the bench to score the fourh goal. It was his tenth goal in 15 games so far this season.
ENERGETYK NOT AT THE RACES - RUKH WIN BIG!
Sunday's games saw a very lacklustre performance from an Energetyk side clearly missing the attacking prowess of The Yak and David Tweh who have left the club this week. They looked a completely different side from the 0-1 victory against BATE last weekend!
More imporantly Energetyk may have missed central defender and Belarusian u19 International Aleksandr Svirepa who was suspended following his red card against BATE last weekend. German Osnov made his full debut at the back and it was one to forget for the nineteen year old Russian defender on loan form Lokomotiv Moscow.
In from Rukh were amazingly 0-4 up - In the majority of their games this season they have been very good at the back and had only scored 15 goals in their 16 games previously - It was completely different today as they ran riot!
Artem Kontsevoy, 20, scored a hat-trick. Denis Gechikho, Artem Rakhmanov, Oleksandr Migunov and 19 year old Oleg Nikiforenko also scored along with Evgeni Shevchenko scoring on his second start for Rukh following his recent move from Dynamo Brest.
Energetyk manager Vladamir Belyavskiy will definitely file this under 'extremley bad day at the office!' - the only promising thing for him in this game was new sgining from Smolevichy Valdislav Mukhamedov coming off the bench and netting a late goal on his debut. Belyavskiy wasn't present at this game due to family reasons.
Rukh will be full of confidence going into their big game with BATE next weekend.
DYNAMO GAIN REVENGE OVER FC MINSK IN CITY DERBY VICTORY
In the Minsk derby it was Dynamo who gained some revenge for FC Minsk's victory earlier in the season with a narrow 1-0 win. Ivan Bakhar's delightful chip from outside of the box won the game for Dynamo against his former club - he played for FC between 2014 to 2019.
ALL SQUARE IN VITEBSK
Sunday evening's game saw in form Neman Grodno travel to Vitebsk which is a round trip of just over 1000 kilometers which is roughly the same as travelling from Inverness to Preston and back in the United Kingdom. The game ended 0-0 but both sides had good chances to score with goalkeepers Artem Soroko and Dmitri Dudar making some good saves. Neman gave a debut to new signing from Smolevichy Jean Morel Poe.
This result ends Neman's seven match winning run but is a good result in my book. Vitebsk are the league's draw specialists - seven of their last ten games have ended all square - they other three were two wins and one defeat. They now only have one defeat in their eight home league games.
CURRENT TABLE - TOP SIX ONLY
| POS | TEAM | P | GD | PTS | FORM |
| 1. | SHAKHTYOR | 17 | +20 | 33 | DDDWW |
| 2. | BATE BORISOV | 17 | +12 | 31 | DWLLD |
| 3. | NEMAN GRODNO | 16 | +9 | 30 | WWWWD |
| 4. | ENERGETYK-BGU | 17 | +1 | 29 | LDWWL |
| 5. | DYNAMO BREST | 16 | +11 | 26 | WWWLD |
| 6. | DYNAMO MINSK | 17 | +8 | 26 | WDWLW |
CURRENT TABLE - BOTTOM FIVE ONLY
| POS | TEAM | P | GD | PTS | FORM |
| 13. | SLUTSK | 16 | -7 | 18 | DLLLL |
| 14. | GORODEYA | 16 | -13 | 16 | WLLDL |
| 14. | FC MINSK | 15 | -11 | 15 | LLDDL |
| 15. | SMOLEVICHY | 16 | -6 | 14 | LLWDW |
| 16. | BELSHINA | 17 | -21 | 10 | WLLDW |
Saturday 11th July
Volna 2 Orsha 3 (580)
Naftan 3 Khimik Svetlogorsk 0 (200)
Sputnik 1 Lida 0 (1,050)
Gomel 2 Granit 1 (1,020)
Sunday 12th July
Krumkachy 2 Smorgon 1 (200)
Arsenal 4 Slonim 1 (80)
Lokomotiv Gomel 2 Oshmyany 0 (200)
In the first league Sputnik Rechista are now five points clear at the top of the table thanks to their narrow 1-0 win over Lida - Former Smolevichy midfielder Artem Fedyanin got the all important goal of 48 minutes for the home side.
Sputnik were only formed in 2017 when Second League side 'FK Dyussh-Dsk' who were formed in 2010 moved from Gomel to Rechista which is a journey of around 30 miles.
It was a bottom of the table clash as Naftan Novopolotsk entertained Khimk Svetlogorsk and it was the visitors who remain still without a win in
Former Neman Grodno and Dynamo Brest defender Dmitri Borisov got the first goal with Aleksey Gudov (formerly of Lokomotiv Gomel) and Denis Trapashko (Belshina, Slavia Mozyr, Torpedo Belaz and Smolevichy) adding further goals.
Naftan after winning just one game in their opening nine league games have now won three in a row scoring seven and letting in just one. Khimik have just one draw and eleven defeats in their twelve league games scored.
Krumkachy Minsk got a very important 2-1 win over Smorgon to send them into second placed temporarily. The Ravens were 1-0 down at half time but goals in the second half - one from Mikhail Kolyadko and one from Sergey Kozeka - won the game.
Lokomotiv Gomel won the late game on Sunday to move above Krumkachy - They beat Oshmyany 2-0 with goals from Pavel Klenyo and Denis Kozlovskiy
Arsenal Dzerzhinsk are also pushing for the top spot with a good 4-1 win over Slonim. Yuriy Lovets scored a hat-trick in this game. He was due to sign for Swedish second tier side AFC Eskilstuna in January but due to the covid-19 pandemic stayed with Arsenal. He came through the academy ranks at FC Minsk and has one Belarusian U21 cap to his name. Could a side only formed in 2019 be in the top league for 2021?
Gomel (relegated to the second tier last season) are in fifth place. They won 2-1 against Granit who are stuggling towards the bottom of the table this season. Gomel have only lost one league game this season against their city rival's Lokomotiv. Former Sputnik and Torpedo Minsk player Nikita Nekasov got their first goal with Artyem Vaskov getting their second. I expect Gomel to win big (by 4+ goals) at home to bottom of the table Khimk next weekend but you just never know do you?
CURRENT TABLE - TOP SIX ONLY
| POS | TEAM | P | GD | PTS | FORM |
| 1. | SPUTNIK RECHISTA | 12 | +7 | 25 | DWWDW |
| 2. | LOKOMOTIV GOMEL | 12 | +8 | 22 | LLDWW |
| 3. | KRUMKACHY | 12 | +8 | 20 | LWDLW |
| 4. | ARSENAL | 11 | +6 | 20 | DWWLW |
| 5. | SMORGON | 12 | +4 | 19 | LWDLL |
| 6. | GOMEL | 11 | +16 | 17 | WWDDW |
SECOND LEAGUE
Saturday 11th July
GROUP A
Baranovichi 4 Meliorator Zhitkovichi 1 (453)
Stenles Pinsk 7 Kronon 0 (200)
Ostrovets 2 Dynamo Malorita 2 (445)
BGU Minsk 1 Molodechno 4 (40)
Pershiy Regien 1 Ivatsevichi 9 (20)
Shakhtyor Petrikov 1 Osipovichy 2 (170)
Energosbyt-BSATU 2 Dnepr Mogilev 6 (70)
Bumprom 0 Gorki 6 (40)
Zhlobin 1 Viktoriya Maryina Horka 3 (100)
Dnepr Rogachev 1 SMI Autotrans 2 (200)
In the third tier Baranovichi currently lead Group A - they had a good 4-1 home victory over Meliorator Zhitkovichi.
Pershiy Regien suffered their second successive 9-1 defeat when Ivatsevichi thrased them at home.
In Group B DNEPR Mogilev's march towards the title continues with their ninth successive victory. Osipovichy move up into second place thanks to their 1-3 victory at Shakhtyor Petrikov - It was Osipovichy's fifth win in a row. Aleksandr Emelijanov's two second half goals won the game for Osipovichy coming back from 1-0 down at half time.
GROUP A CURRENT TABLE - TOP SIX ONLY
| POS | TEAM | P | GD | PTS | FORM |
| 1. | BARANOVICHI | 10 | +39 | 25 | WDWWW |
| 2. | STENLES PINSK | 10 | +30 | 23 | WDWWW |
| 3. | DYNAMO MALORITA | 10 | +16 | 20 | WDLWD |
| 4. | MOLODECHNO | 10 | +15 | 20 | LDWWW |
| 5. | MELITORATOR ZHIT | 9 | +8 | 19 | WDLWL |
| 6. | OSTROVETS | 10 | +8 | 14 | DLLLD |
GROUP B CURRENT TABLE - TOP SIX ONLY
| POS | TEAM | P | GD | PTS | FORM |
| 1. | DNEPR MOGILEV | 9 | +40 | 27 | WWWWW |
| 2. | OSIPOVICHY | 10 | +10 | 22 | WWWWW |
| 3. | SHAKHTYOR PETRIKOV | 9 | +28 | 21 | WWWLL |
| 4. | GORKI | 10 | +11 | 19 | WWLWW |
| 5. | VICTORIYA | 10 | +3 | 18 | DWWWW |
| 6. | BUMPROM | 10 | -7 | 13 | LLWLL |
TOP SIX CROWDS FOR THE WEEK
| ATTENDANCE | MATCH |
| 2507 | BATE v SLAVIA |
| 1059 | SMOLEVICHY v ISLOCH |
| 1057 | SHAKHTYOR v GORODEYA |
| 1050 | SPUTNIK v LIDA |
| 1020 | GOMEL v GRANIT |
| 1019 | DYNAMO MINSK v FC MINSK |
TOP SIX OF PREMIER LEAGUE FORM TABLE - LAST SIX GAMES
| TEAM | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| NEMAN GRODNO | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | +7 | 16 |
| DYNAMO BREST | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 7 | +11 | 13 |
| DYNAMO MINSK | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 1 | +7 | 13 |
| SHAKHTYOR | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 6 | +7 | 12 |
| ENERGETYK | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 10 | -3 | 7 |
| BATE BORISOV | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 8 | -1 | 6 |
BOTTOM FIVE OF PREMIER LEAGUE FORM TABLE - LAST SIX GAMES
| TEAM | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| SMOLEVICHY | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 10 | +3 | 10 |
| BELSHINA | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 12 | -7 | 7 |
| GORODEYA | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 15 | -7 | 4 |
| FC MINSK | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 12 | -8 | 2 |
| SLUTSK | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 11 | -8 | 1 |
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