BATE relegated from Europa League

Battling draw brings no positive emotions

On the eve of the Europa League return playoff match between BATE and Astana, honoured coach of Belarus Anatoly Baidachny was optimistic, “BATE should solve its issues and enter the Europa League group round. I believe in them.” Unfortunately, the Belarusians lost the match against the Kazakh team.

Following their defeat in an away match (0:2), Alexander Yermakovich’s team barely achieved a draw at home (2:2) but it was too early to celebrate. BATE’s history has many examples of the club finding ways out of dead-end situations. A small ray of hope appeared with Mikhail Gordeichuk’s goal just before half time. However, in the second half, Kazakhstan’s champions played it cool. Following Maksimovic’s and Twumasi’s goals, Borisov’s club had to score four goals. However, it was Igor Stasevich’s penalty kick that scored the only goal. The match ended 2:2, and the total score after two matches was 2:4. BATE, unfortunately, failed to gain a place in the Eurocup until the autumn.

After having previously become used to having two clubs in the group stages of Eurocup tournaments, this year, there will be none at all. Last time the BATE players were relegated from the Eurocup was in the 2013/2014 season when they were defeated by another Kazakhstan club, Shakhter of Karagandy, in the 2nd qualification round of the Champions League. Borisov’s team started this year’s Eurocup season in the Champions League as well, beating Finland’s Seinäjoki, and then were defeated by Ireland’s Dundalk.