It took FC BATE a
desperate goal in the dying seconds of the last Vysshaya Liga game to
seal the title. The Yellow-Blues trailed 1-3 in Gorodeya against the
local club after 46 minutes, but managed to clinch the title by
scoring two late goals. Vital Radzivonau, the most decorated player
of the Belarusian top division, appeared as a substitute to return
the Yellow-Blues into the title battle and then to win it.
It all started well
for the Yellow-Blues. Mirko Ivanić scored an goal in the middle of
the second half netting a rebound after a good cross by Mikhail
Hardzeichuk from the right flank. But it soon became 1-2. Gorodeya
did not have to switch fast forward note. It took just two good
crosses into the box and two decent headers for the Sugarmen to take
the lead.
The beginning of the
first half was even more difficult. A blunder in defence lead to
another goal by Dubajic, who made a brace. 1-3 sounded like a death
penalty for the ambitions of the Yellow-Blues, but Aliaksandr
Yermakovich side continued to seek opportunities and managed to pull
themselves together. Maksim Valadzko and Vital Radzivonau were sent
into the pitch to save the battle.
A penalty for a foul
on Mirko Ivanić was a new hope for the guests. Vital Radzivonau
converted the sport kick despite deflection from the goalkeeper and
the Yellow-Blues were back into the game.
Five additional
minutes by the referees were the last chance of the champions for
prolongation of their title, and Vital Radzivonau did it again. A
cross by Ihar Stasevich was mishandled by the home side and Professor
netted it into the net. The goal lead to celebrations by the huge
BATE crowd who jumped into the pitch.
The Yellow-Blues
took a vital point and were crowned Belarusian Champions for 14th
time. The team will play its final game in 2017 in London against
Arsenal on MD6 of UEFA Europa League Group Stage.
Aliaksandr YERMAKOVICH (FC BATE Borisov Head
Coach):
- The emotions
were just amazing. I think that was a great game. I can understand
the frustration of Gorodeya, but this is football. We showed our will
power several times during the season, and in this game we proved the
game lasts until the very last seconds. And whatever happens we have
to belive in ourselves. I will not talk too much on the tactical
things. But it was not without some luck today. Probably the best get
the luck. Even when the score became 3-1, we were still seeking for a
goal. We took risks, allowed a lot of free space in the middle of the
pitch, but the risk paid off.
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