Novopolotsk lost 2:3 to Gomel in the Belarus Cup on Saturday evening. The visitors took all three points and extended their momentum after a mixed run of results. The match finished with Gomel ahead despite both sides showing attacking intent throughout.
Novopolotsk came into the fixture fifth in the table with two wins and four losses from six games. Gomel sat fourth after four victories and two defeats over the same period. Both sides carried similar records with zero points accumulated so far in the competition standings.
The home side had been involved in high-scoring encounters recently. They beat Lokomotiv Orsha 3:2 and Mogilev 3:2 before falling to Vitebsk 2:3 and Zhlobin 4:5. Slavutich also produced a 4:2 victory for the hosts earlier in August. The pattern suggested a team comfortable in open games.
Gomel's recent form showed similar volatility. They beat Vitebsk 3:2 and Lokomotiv Orsha 4:0 while losing to Zhlobin 2:1 and Slavutich 3:1. A comfortable 4:1 win over Mogilev rounded out their five previous matches. The visitors came seeking consistency after that uneven stretch.
The final score reflected a match where chances were created on both sides. Gomel's away performance proved decisive despite Novopolotsk's home advantage. The result leaves the visitors with a positive record going forward in the cup.