Belarus round-up: Gomel set new standard

FC Gomel set a Belarussian First Division record when they kept an eighth consecutive clean sheet with a 1-0 victory over FC Shakhtyor Soligorsk.

Bliznyuk on target
The result saw Gomel set the new standard, eclipsing the feat of seven straight games without conceding set by FC Torpedo-SKA Minsk during the 1994/1995 season. Gennadi Bliznyuk was the hero, making the most of Aleksandr Shagoiko's assist to beat goalkeeper Aleksandr Marteshkin for the only goal in the 26th minute.

'Deserved goal'
Gomel coach Sergei Podpaly was in philosophical mood, despite the victory that took Gomel up to second in the table. "We controlled the game and scored a deserved goal in the first half," he said. "However, I was not happy with my footballers during the second half. Contrary to our tactics, they went into a deep defence. They should not have done this. It is good that Shakhtyor did not manage to score."

Debut victory
Aleksandr Bashmakov, who replaced Sergei Borovski as Torpedo-SKA head coach, enjoyed a winning debut as the league leaders beat FC Dinamo Minsk 5-1. Vitali Ledenev, Andrei Razin, Vitali Mikhalev, Dmitri Chalei and Sergei Kozak were all on target for Torpedo-SKA, while Sergei Grib scored the only goal for Dinamo. Torpedo-SKA are top of the table thanks to a better goal difference than Gomel.

Surprise in Minsk
FC Torpedo Zhodino, who topped the standings only a few rounds ago, suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of FC Zvezda-VA-BGU Minsk, with Vladislav Petkevich scoring the only goal on 59 minutes. Champions FC BATE Borisov eased to a 4-0 win against last season's runners-up FC Neman Grodno thanks to Aleksandr Kobec's double and single strikes from Aleksandr Ermakovich and Igor Chumachenko.

Naftan win
Elsewhere, FC Dinamo Minsk beat FC Transmash Mogilev 1-0 while FC Naftan Novopolotsk defeated FC Belshina Bobruisk 3-1. The match between FC Molodechno 2000 and FC Lokomotiv Minsk ended in a goalless stalemate, while FC Darida Zhdanovichi drew 2-2 with FC Slavia Mozyr.