Belarus off to a positive start with 2-0 win

Two goals either side of half-time gave Belarus a 2-0 victory over Iceland in the opening match of the Malta International Tournament yesterday.

After a period of unrelenting pressure by Iceland in the early stages of the first half, Belarus took the lead against the run of play two minutes past the half hour.

In a rare attack, Henadzi Blizniuk released Raman Vasiliuk with an intelligent cut-back and the latter rifled a powerful shot past Iceland goalkeeper Stefan Magnusson.

In first-half stoppage time, Iceland should have equalised but Tryggvi Gudmundsson skewed his shot wide of the near post after Belarus goalkeeper Siarhei Veremenko had rushed out of goal to palm away a teasing cross from Theodor Bjarnason.

Less than two minutes after the start of the second half, Belarus doubled their advantage, Pavel Plaskonny surprising Iceland goalkeeper Magnusson with a dipping shot from long distance.

Unlike in the first half when Iceland enjoyed the better of the exchanges, it was Belarus who seized the initiative after the change of ends.

Iceland should have reduced the arrears 20 minutes from time but Belarus goalkeeper Siarhei Veremko denied Helgi Sigurdsson, tipping away his fierce strike from the edge of the area.

Four minutes from time, Veremko again prevented Iceland from pulling one back when pushing away a low effort from substitute Gunnar Thorvaldsson.

The referee of the match was Chris Lautier.