The Yellow
Blues made a step closer to Belarusian Cup Semifinal beating SFC Slutsk. Substitute
Maksim Valadzko was the matchwinner with a late screamer after a pass by Ihar
Stasevich.
The goal
was a logical ending of BATE attacks throughout the game. The home side spent
most of the time at the other end of the pitch pressing the guests with a lot
of possession and shots. Alexei Rios and Vital Radzivonau were on fire, but
failed to capitalize on good opportunities. Rios was close to a goal but his
top-shelf shot was cleared by the goalkeeper in a desperate save.
In the second half the Yellow-Blues reinforced
the team with substitutes Dzmitry Mazaleuski and Maksim Valadzko, and the
latter managed to bring BATE important one goal advantage before the return leg
in Slutsk.
Aliaksandr YERMAKOVICH (FC BATE Head
Coach):
- That was a tough game against a strong
supporter. We lacked some cutting edge up front and created few opportunities
to score. But for the goal it was only a moment of Ivanić. On the whole that
was difficult, the opponents defended with big numbers and made our life
difficult. But anyway it will be decided in the return leg. Today the goal was
a prize for us for all our commitment for the game.
69’
