Lokomotiv on verge of final
Sunday, May 11, 2003
Article summary
FC Lokomotiv Minsk virtually sealed their place in the Belarus Cup final with a 3-0 home win.
Article body
FC Lokomotiv Minsk took a huge step towards sealing their place in the Belarus Cup final with a 3-0 home win against FC Belshina Bobruisk in the semi-final first leg.
Early goal
Lokomotiv began brightly and took the lead nine minutes into the game as Aleksandr Afonasenko converted Nikolai Shvydakov's pass. However, the away team quickly retaliated and won a penalty in the 29th minute, but Artem Goncharik was unable to convert.
Successful penalties
Lokomotiv created the better chances in the second half, and won two penalties, both of which were converted by Dmitri Denisyuk. Both sides ended the game with ten men, as Belshina goalkeeper Vitali Varivonchik was shown the red card for a professional foul a minute before the hour, the incident which led to Lokomotiv's first penalty, while Denisyuk himself was dismissed for a second yellow card eight minutes later.
Goalless draw
The other semi-final between FC Gomel and FC Dinamo Minsk ended 0-0, Gomel's third successive goalless draw.
