Kirenkin goal gives Belarus deserved victory

Moldova 0
Belarus 1

A 2-1 opening defeat to Estonia failed to dim the enthusiasm of Belarus' young players. Facing a Moldova team who drew their first match with hosts Malta, Belarus stepped up their performance to notch a well-earned 1-0 victory over their more experienced opponents.

Belarus could have seized the initiative as early as the 15th minute but Maksim Tsyhalka miscued his shot after coming one-on-one with Alexandru Melenciuc, the Moldova goalkeeper.

A positive feature of the first half in this match was the teams' determination to produce direct, flowing football.

There were scoring opportunities at both ends of the pitch but it was Belarus who drew first blood six minutes from half-time.

They were awarded a free-kick outside the penalty area, Viktar Sokal curled the ball towards the centre of the box where Roman Kirenkin leapt spectacularly to direct an unstoppable header past Melenciuc and give Belarus a deserved lead.

Sergey Kornilenko could have doubled his team's account on the hour but his low free-kick took a deflection off a Moldova defender, the ball whizzing past the far post.

Belarus should have been home and dry by the 75th minute but for some wasteful finishing.

Sokal first whipped in a free-kick that was stabbed wide by Maksim Tsyhalka and minutes later, he served substitute Pavel Biahanski whose point-blank header was blocked by Melenciuc.

Moldova, who play against Belarus in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers in Group Five, which also includes Italy, moved forward with more urgency as the end of the game drew nearer and could have scored a late equaliser.

Ivan Testemitanu slipped a throughball to Denis Calincov but his angled drive was fisted away by Belarus goalkeeper Zhaunou.

Moldova: A. Melenciuc, L. Andriuta, C. Popov, N. Josan (A. Cucovei 72), V. Catinsus, A. Savinov (B. Cebotari 86), S. Covalcius, A. Corneencov, I. Testemitanu, V. Boret (S. Pisnic 65), D. Calincov.

Belarus: Y. Zhaunou, V. Tarasenka, V. Nadziyeuski, R. Kirenkin, A. Baha, I. Razhkou (Y. Lashankou 57), D. Likhtarovich, V. Sokal, V. Gleb, S. Kornilenko (P. Biahanski 71), M. Tsyhalka.

Referee: Joe Attard (Malta).

Scorer: Kirenkin 39.