League Play-Off

Lepel
Spectators: 36 (Terracing: 28, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Vitebsk's Nazar Kopylov started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. The audience thought a goal was coming when Ivan Pankevich got free with Rastislav Simanov in the 4th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Aleksey Malafeev showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Vyacheslav Lapov, who was totally free with the ball in the 6th minute. 9 minutes into the match, Lepel's goal looked a bit too open when Nazar Kopylov came free, but Aleksey Malafeev reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Aleksey Malafeev showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Vyacheslav Lapov in the 13th minute of the match. In the 17th minute, Bogdan Yanchyk hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Nazar Kopylov received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 22nd minute. Aleksey Malafeev tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. A collision led to Vitebsk getting a freekick after 24 minutes play. Vyacheslav Lapov hit a great ball. Vyacheslav Lapov received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 27th minute. Aleksey Malafeev tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Vyacheslav Lapov had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 31st minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Ivan Pankevich sent away a hard shot on goal in the 35th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Aleksey Malafeev made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Nazar Kopylov in the 39th minute of play. 41 minutes into the game, Ivan Pankevich cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-0. Rastislav Simanov was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 1-0 at half-time.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Kastus Ragozin to make the kick off. Nazar Kopylov might have been able to make a better finish in the 54th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Aleksey Malafeev. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Nazar Kopylov ran back to his position shaking his head. Vitebsk's Vyacheslav Lapov got a good chance for a goal in the 59th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Kastus Ragozin in the 68th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Rastislav Simanov prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Vyacheslav Lapov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 69th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Nazar Kopylov in the 80th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Aleksey Malafeev prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Dmitry Gogalev received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 82nd minute. Aleksey Malafeev tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Aleksey Malafeev made an important save on a dangerous shot by Vyacheslav Lapov in the 85th minute. Aleksey Malafeev made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Nazar Kopylov in the 90th minute of play. Vyacheslav Lapov fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 91st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Aleksey Malafeev having to interfere. In the 93rd minute Roman Ezhov shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Aleksey Malafeev saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Vitebsk's supporters were dissatisfied at the end of the match because Lepel had won, even though Vitebsk had held more of the ball.