Belarus round-up: Zhodino keep on winning

FC Torpedo Zhodino made it three wins in as many games this season by defeating FC Darida Zhdanovichi 3-1.

Two for Markhel
Torpedo forward Yuri Markhel scored in 22nd and 69th minutes, in between an Igor Trukhov strike, to take his tally to four, making him the early frontrunner in the scoring charts. Vladimir Zhuravl scored for Darida.

Naftan fightback
Newly promoted FC Naftan Novopolotsk are second place after a 2-1 home victory against FC Dnepr-Transmash Mogilev. The visitors opened the scoring in the fifth minute through Aleksandr Pishur but Valeri Apanas (43) and Sergei Mironchik (76) ensured maximum points for the top-flight debutants.

'Defensive mistakes'
FC Dinamo Minsk coach Georgi Gyurov blamed defensive errors for his side's 3-1 home loss to FC Belshina Bobruisk. "I cannot say that we played badly," he said. "However, big defensive mistakes spoiled our hopes for a positive result." Aleksei Deniseny, after 17 seconds, Aleksandr Borisik and Valentin Kovalchuk scored for Belshina, leaving coach Vladimir Gevorkyan to say: "It is always prestigious to beat Dinamo."

BATE on target
FC BATE Borisov scored their first goals of the season by registering a comfortable 3-0 win at FC Zvezda-VA-BGU Minsk. Last season's leading scorer, Valeri Stripeiskis, scored twice with Yevgeni Loshankov hitting the other. FC Torpedo-SKA Minsk also recorded their first win, beating city rivals FC Lokomotiv Minsk 1-0 courtesy of Andrei Razin's goal in the 25th minute.

In-form Shakhtior
In games played elsewhere, Shakhtior Soligorsk thrashed FC Dinamo Brest 5-0, with all the goals coming in the second half, and FC Slavia Mozyr defeated FC Neman Grodno 1-0. The game between FC Gomel and FC Molodechno-2000 ended 0-0.