Football is still alive, and we have a busy recap for you from Belarus, Tajikstan and Burundi.
Despite the coronavirus pandemic, these three countries are having business as usual, and in Belarus’ case - even with the presence of crowds.
Belarus - Vysheyshaya Liga
Torpedo BelAZ Zhodino - Energetyk BGU
Saturday’s main game pitted first placed and perfect Energetyk with 7th placed Torpedo BelAZ, who also started the season positively with two wins and a single loss.
The hosts hail from the city of Zhodino, located just 55 km from Minsk, and are sponsored by the BelAZ company - a local factory which manufacturers trucks and heavy equipment.
Managed by former Belarus national team gaffer Yuri Puntus, the Zhodino boys managed to upset Energetyk 2-0, and replace them in the first spot. The star of the afternoon was Brazilian Gabriel Ramos: On the 55th minute he received the ball from Andrey Khachaturyan, dribbled on the left flank and then delivered a smart pass back to the surging Khachaturyan who finished off.
11 minutes later Ramos made it game over. The 24 years older from Rio de Janeiro displayed another quality he possesses, shooting a scorcher on a first touch from 25 meters out directly into the top corner. No chance for the keeper, an absolute class finish. Big celebrations in Zhodino today, but next week they travel to play powerhouse BATE Borisov for a difficult task.
In other games today:
Two more sides who started the season well, Vitebsk and Slutsk, drew 1-1 and now sit third and fourth respectively. Gorodeja beat Dinamo Minsk 1-0
Tajikstan - Vysshaya Liga
Lokomotiv Pamir - Dushanbe 83
A fascinating meeting between two teams who are newly promoted to the first division - Lokomotiv were the 2019 champions of the second division, while Dushanbe 83 finished third. In the first game of this season, Dushanbe were hammered 7-0 by Istiqlol and wanted to make a better impression today in a more equal match-up.
The first half was fairly tight, with the biggest chance coming for guests Dushanbe in the 13th minute, as Ismoil Almiardonov pounced on a bad defensive error but couldn’t slot it past goalkeeper Shorukh Qirgizboev.
In the second half, the guests piled up the pressure and had two great opportunities to score from set-pieces, but both shockingly missed. And as usual, the famous unwritten rule of football proved itself once more: On maybe their first chance of the game, Lokomotiv scored a fortunate goal. A well-struck free-kick by Shahrom Sulaimonov was stopped by the goalkeeper before bizarrely put into the net by Dushanbe defender Ruziev Izzatullo. An own goal that ultimately decided the game.
In other games today:
Faizkand beat Regar TadAZ 3-2 after being 2-1 down in the second half, while Kuktosh scored three quickfire goals in the final ten minutes to beat Istaravshan away from home 3-0.
Burundi - Coupe du President
In the only active footballing nation in Africa, two cup quarter-finals second legs took place today. Most league games were delayed for this occasion.
Aigle Noir beat Atletico Olympic by two goals to nil (6-2 on aggregate), while Rukinzo defeated Buhumuza by the same scoreline (3-0 on aggregate). The two sides qualify for the semi-finals, as the cup is their final chance for silverware this season.
Two more games will be played tomorrow: Bujumbura against Inter Star and Musongati against Vital’O.