Zhodino host newly promoted Belshina in gameweek 2
Last season’s sixth placed finishers in the Belarusian Premier League, the brilliantly named Torpedo Zhodino play host to newly promoted Belshina Bobruisk at Torpedo Stadium, this Friday at 3pm. The sides have not met since 2016, a season that saw Zhodino take four points from the eventually relegated Belshina who come into this season having been crowned champions comfortably of the Belarusian second tier. Yuri Puntus’ hosts come into this one as strong favourites, the home crowd will be expecting nothing less than three points.
Opening day
With one game down for the campaign Torpedo are three points and a cool nine places above Belshina, in the albeit embryonic league standings. Gabriel Ramos bagged a debut goal in their 1-0 win away to Soligorsk. A last-gasp winner it was with 91 minutes on the clock increasing the momentum on the back of Puntus’ men coming into this encounter.
Belshina did not fare so well, they led 1-0 at the break thanks to Leonid Kovel’s seventh minute strike however conceded a trio of second half goals to lose out to last season’s 10th placed FC Minsk. Somewhat of a reality check having had such success last term. Bobruisk’s three most prolific players in front of goal in their title win have since departed, making this campaign look bleaker for Eduard Gradoboyev’s side. Aleksander Yushin who topped the scoring charts with 26 goals returned to his motherland of Russia, Andrey Lyasyuk left for FK Lida and Ilya Kukharchik joined Friday’s opponents.
Ones to watch
Gabriel Ramos is a 24-year-old Brazilian winger with a lot to prove though has hit the ground running, a versatile player able to drift across any of the attacking midfield or striking positions, he can relish his opportunity in Belarus having recently joined from Dinamo Batumi in the Georgian topflight. He managed four goals and four assists from 35 appearances last term, not exactly sparkling but Puntus can get the best out of him.
The spotlight will be on Ilya Kukharchik in this fixture, he scored six times from midfield in firing Belshina to the second-tier title. Now playing with a better supporting cast he is an important cog in Zhodino’s efforts to challenge for European qualification once again this season.
The hosts will show their class and brush aside the depleted newcomers.
Post bet chat Marcus's Tips:
Zhodino got the win, 1-0 thanks to a second half goal.