Belarus round-up: Torpedo-SKA slip sends Gomel top
Sunday, June 29, 2003
Article summary
FC Torpedo-SKA Minsk suffered a 2-0 defeat against FC BATE Borisov and surrendered top spot to FC Gomel.
Article body
FC Torpedo-SKA Minsk suffered a 2-0 defeat against FC BATE Borisov and lost the top spot in the Belarussian Premier League to FC Gomel.
Spectacular strike
Both teams played open, attacking football and created several clear-cut chances during the first half but the match remained goalless at the interval. However, Pavel Begansky eventually broke the deadlock with a spectacular strike just four minutes after the restart.
Missing players
Torpedo-SKA pushed forward in search of an equaliser but were unable to find a way back into the match as they were missing four key players - Sergei Kozak, Dmitri Makar, Andrei Dovnar and Vladimir Ostrikov. BATE then extended their advantage in the dying seconds when Dmitri Rubnenko took advantage of good interplay between Evgeni Loshkanov and Valeri Stripeikis.
'Lack of luck'
Torpedo-SKA coach Aleksandr Bashmakov revealed his disappointment after the match, saying: "The main reasons behind our fiasco was our lack of luck and the absence of four key players. We fought equally with the reigning champions. However, it was not enough for the whole 90 minutes". His opposite number Yuri Puntus added: "The first half was not good for us as we played the way our rivals wanted. But it was a game for six points and I am very happy that we won it".
Fantastic run
Gomel extended their magnificent run without conceding a goal to eleven games, and moved to the top of the league, as they recorded a comfortable 3-0 win over FC Lokomotiv Minsk thanks to goals from Maksim Razumov, Dmitri Karsakov and Sergei Nikitenko. Despite playing without their suspended coach Anatoli Baydachny, FC Dinamo Minsk beat FC Dinamo Brest 2-0 and recorded a fifth consecutive league victory. Sergei Kornilenko and Viktor Sokol scored the goals on 43 and 57 minutes respectively.
Other results
Elsewhere, FC Darida Zhdanovichi beat FC Dnepr-Transmash 3-2, FC Molodechno-2000 overcame FC Slavia Mozyr 2-1 and FC Zvezda-VA-BGU edged past FC Naftan Novopolotsk by a single goal. In the weekend's remaining fixture, FC Belshina Bobruisk drew 1-1 with FC Neman Grodno.
