Slavutych produced a remarkable comeback to beat table-topping Soligorsk 4-3 in the Extraleague on Monday evening. The home side, sitting seventh in the standings, took all three points from a match that seemed destined for the visitors until the final minutes. By then, what looked like another routine victory for the unbeaten away team had slipped through their fingers.
Soligorsk arrived having won all six of their opening games, including dominant displays against Mogilev and Lokomotiv Orsha. They had not dropped a point all season. Slavutych, meanwhile, carried a mixed record into the fixture — four wins and two defeats, with recent results showing both their attacking potential and their vulnerability.
And here's the thing about this match — it was decided in the closing stages. Soligorsk had controlled large portions of the contest, but Slavutych's persistence paid off when they found the net with seconds remaining. The home crowd, which had grown increasingly restless, erupted as the final whistle blew.
We had given a prediction before kick-off, backing the home side with 43 per cent confidence. The forecast came true. To be fair, Slavutych's recent form suggested they could trouble anyone, even if the statistics against Soligorsk's perfect record made the odds look slim. The result vindicated that assessment.
The victory moves Slavutych further up the table, while Soligorsk's perfect start takes a dent. Both teams had already played six games, and the gap between them in the standings should close slightly after this result. The visitors remain top, but the cushion has narrowed.
