All firing Soligorsk seek victory in Vitebsk
Vitebsk host Shakhtyor Soligorsk this Sunday afternoon, hoping they can claw back some of their early season momentum after suffering back to back losses. Soligorsk are on a roll and have recovered to sixth place having flirted with the bottom handful of the division in the early weeks of the campaign. They have won their last three all against strong opposition to an aggregated scoreline of 10-2, looking extremely menacing in an attacking sense in their 4-0 demolition of Isloch Minsk in gameweek seven. The visitors are strong favourites for this encounter, though Vitebsk have been solid at home so far this season prior to their slip up last time out.
Last time out
Vitebsk’s last match was an extremely painful late loss to Slavia Mozyr, they were leading until the 87th minute and ended the day in the top four had they held on but instead they are eighth and starting to look over their shoulders rather than up the table. Last season they only just survived finishing 13th, and after a positive start are slipping away from competing in the top half, if it was not for the dreadfully poor form of the two newly promoted sides occupying the bottom two places Vitebsk would be in desperate need of a result to arrest their slide.
Maksym Slyusar inflicted two goals in as many minutes to leapfrog Mozyr into seventh one above Sunday’s hosts. Sergey Yasinsky’s men dominated the first half however found themselves a goal down at the break, recovering to take the lead through Ion Nicolaescu just after the hour mark.
Shakhtyor continued their winning streak and momentum from back to back wins over reigning champions Dinamo Brest by thrashing Isloch by four goals to nil. It was a clinical performance with Soligorsk scoring three out of four second half shots on goal despite only having 40% possession, Vitali Lisakovich helped himself to a second consecutive brace.
One to watch
Dmitri Podstrelov has started well with Soligorsk having joined in the off-season from Dnyapro Mogilev who were relegated in the playoff spot. He has scored twice and assisted once in the last two outings and is a threat from all angles, equally comfortable playing off the left or right wing. Soligorsk may have a gem in the ranks, with the Belarus international still only 21 years old.
Soligorsk come into this one on red hot form and could blow away this inconsistent Vitebsk side.
Post bet chat Marcus's Tips:
Vitebsk recovered strongly from the Mozyr defeat to thwart Soligorsk's procession up the table with a goalless draw.