Vitebsk — Novopolotsk: 3:2, Extraliga

Vitebsk beat Novopolotsk 3-2 in the Extraleague on Wednesday evening. The hosts held on for a win that extended their unbeaten start to four games. Novopolotsk remain winless after four matches.

There was no minute-by-minute breakdown available for this fixture. The score tells the story: three goals for Vitebsk, two for their visitors. The margin was narrow, and the result came down to who took their chances.

We had called for a Vitebsk victory with 67 per cent confidence before kick-off. The prediction came true. The home side had won three of their previous four matches and carried that momentum into this one. Novopolotsk, meanwhile, had lost every game so far.

Looking at the form going in, Vitebsk had beaten Brest 4-2 on September 12th before dropping points against Soligorsk and Slavutich. Novopolotsk's recent record reads like a list of heavy defeats — 7-3 and 5-2 losses to Soligorsk, and a 3-2 win over Mogilev in August.

Table position reflects the difference. Vitebsk sit third with three wins from four games. Novopolotsk are rooted at the bottom after four defeats. This result keeps the gap between them wide.