FC Dinamo Minsk started in the Europa League with a win

FC Dinamo Minsk have got off to a good start in the Europa League first qualifying round.

The Belarusian football club hammered Lithuania’s FK Kruoja 3-0 (0-0) in the away match of the first leg in Siauliai on 4 July, BelTA has learnt.

Before the match the Dutch head coach of the Dinamo Minsk faced a selection headache as his squad was shortened following the injuries of Dmitry Molosh, Vitaly Trubilo and Alexander Danilov. Moreover, prior to the match Adnan Zahirovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Costin Curelea of Romania left the club due to the expiration of their loan deals at Dinamo. Costin Curelea’s departure was expected to affect the team’s scoring abilities as the Romanian was Dinamo Minsk’s top scorer during the 2013 season.

However, the new specialist from the Netherlands Robert Maaskant expressed hope that his club would be able to get through the first round and added that an away goal would be vital for aggregate victory. Robert Maaskant showed that he had faith in young players and included 19-year-old left full back Semyon Shestilovsky in the matchday squad.

Dinamo were favorites because they had a great experience of partaking in the European campaigns, a record which debutants FK Kruoja could not boast.

Dinamo took possession from the start of the game but the hosts were ready for such scenario and defended well. However, FK Kruoja attacked the Belarusian goals only at times and goalie Alexander Gutor did not have much to do throughout the game.

In the first minute of the match Vladimir Khvashchinsky could break the deadlock but did not manage to push the ball past the Lithuanian goalkeeper. Midway through the first half Russian forward Dmitry Sychev passed the ball into the box but no one met his cross. Vladimir Khvashchinsky had another chance of opening the score, his shot being parried by keeper Maris Eltermanis.

The second half was much better than the first one. The Lithuanian club did not keep up with the tempo of the Dinamo players. The Belarusians began creating more chances in front of FK Kruoja’s goals.

The 63rd minute final brought a much-wanted result, Hernan Figueredo being set up by Dmitry Sychev and firing home for a 1-0 scoreline. In some minutes Hernan Figueredo could double the lead but failed to benefit from Vladimir Khvashchinsky’s pinpoint pass.

Igor Stasevich took the corner in the 72nd minute and earned an assist point as defender Sergei Politevich headed the ball in.

Lucky substitutions by Robert Maaskant worked perfectly. Gleb Rassadkin came off the bench on 82 minutes and scored two minutes later with his first touch of the game.

The return tie is scheduled for 11 July at the Traktor stadium in Minsk. If FC Dinamo Minsk hold to its 3-0 aggregate lead in the second leg at home they will set up a second-round date with Croatia’s NK Lokomotiva Zagreb in the Europa League.