By Yegor Glebov
In the return match of the first qualifying round, hosted by Minsk’s Traktor Stadium, the Minsk squad defeated their guests 5:0 (4:0). The fate of the match was decided early in the first half; by the 17th minute, Kruoja goalkeeper Mindaugas Malinauskas’ net had been assaulted four times.
Artem Bykov claimed the first goal in the 5th minute, following a great pass from Dmitry Sychev. In the 15th minute, Hernбn Figueredo scored, followed by Dmitry Sychev’s two goals in the 16th and 17th minutes. Several more wonderful opportunities arose but shots at goal proved imprecise.
During the second half, Minsk relaxed a little. In the 54th minute, Dinamo received a penalty kick, taken ineffectively by Sychev, being saved by Malinauskas. His hat trick was foiled. Nevertheless, fans were delighted to see Vladimir Khvashchinsky claim the final goal, leaving the score at 5:0. In the first match, held the previous week in Šiaulē, Dinamo won 3:0.
In the second round of the Europa League qualification round, Robert Maaskant’s trainees will face a far more severe rival: the vice champion of Croatia, NK Lokomotiva Zagreb. Their first match is to be hosted by Minsk on July 18th, with return play in Zagreb on July 25th.
