Sunday's matches in Belarus brought us drama, goals and, above all - a new leader.
BATE Borisov and Dynamo Brest played today, as both wanted to make a significant step to the top places of the league.
Smolevichi v BATE Borisov
After Slutsk lost on Friday, BATE Borisov had a great chance to climb to first place, as they played away against Smolevichi from the bottom of the table.
The match should have been much easier for BATE, but Smolevichi surprised with a quick goal after less than a minute. Aleksei Turik crossed from left, and Yevgeni Baruskov scored the first. The lead lasted for only 10 minutes, until Maksim Skavysh equalized after he ran into the box, and four Smolevichi defenders couldn't block him and his shot. BATE's comeback was even faster as Igor Stasevich scored with a header in the 15th minute. BATE pressed more and more, looking for more goals, and in the 36th minute, it was Dmitri Baga, who scored after an accurate corner kick by Stasevich.
BATE Borisov could feel more comfortable with a 3-1 lead, but Smolevichi didn't give up. In the 55th minute, Ivorian striker Jean Morel Poé took a corner kick, and Dmitri Schegrikovic found the net. In the 63rd minute, Poé took a long-range strike and equalized. As time went by, there was a feeling that Smolevichi can make an unbelievable result, but in the 80th minute, Nemanja Milić scored, and BATE took the lead again. It was his day - Milić found himself alone in front of the goalkeeper in the 93rd minute and scored easily.
The 8-goal thriller ended with a 5-3 win for BATE Borisov, which returned to the first place in the league after a long time.
Dynamo Brest v Dinamo Minsk
The title holders, Dynamo Brest, could not be satisfied with their results until now, as long as Rukh Brest is above them in the table before today's match. They hosted one of the league's giants, Dinamo Minsk.
Dynamo Brest pressed from the beginning and scored their first goal in the 5th minute. Dinamo Minsk defenders tried to clear the ball after a corner kick, but Brest players were in place to create another chance. All Dynamo Brest players missed the cross from the right, but Karlo Bručić mistakenly scored an own goal. Minsk recovered in the 24th minute as Danilo scored the equalizer. In the 51st minute, another defending mistake by Dinamo Minsk, when no one covered Denis Laptev, and goalkeeper Konstantin Rudenok was far away from the goal. Laptev used his head to score above Rudenok. 2-1 to Dynamo Brest.
With a second win in a row, Dynamo Brest will try and maintain their form next week against Energetik-BGU, while Dinamo Minsk will hope to escape from the relegation zone with a home match against Isloch.
More matches from Belarus:
Isloch – Belshina 2-1
Vitebsk – Shakhtyor Soligorsk 0-0
The Liga Primera de Nicaragua crowned the first covid-19 era champions, as Real Estelí defeated FC Managua and won the title for the third time in a row.