Estonia Under 18s 1 Belarus Under 18s 3

Estonia Under 18s 1 Belarus Under 18s 3
International Friendly
Saturday 21st July 2007

A brief retirement to top up the liquid fuel cells and be instructed in the finer points of the Estonian tongue at the local hostelry, then it was back to A Le Coq Arena I AKA the training pitch for the end of the afternoon’s entertainment, football-wise at least.

The Pärnu contingent had stayed on to join their compatriots in cheering on the young lads of Estonia, in a game that might have been regarded as perhaps a mismatch, Belarus’ player pool significantly greater than that of their Baltic hosts, though their transport seemed to belong to a less prosperous era.

Still the boys in blue made light of the perceived disparity and in a match frequently highlighted by moments of great skill, sometimes blighted by the worst of gamesmanship, Estonia regularly rallied against a quick-footed, quick-witted Belarusian threat.
Half-an-hour gone and the visitors were awarded a penalty, though the challenge looked slight, the referee, wearing the three lions of Estonia upon his breast, perhaps trying not to be seen as favouring his countrymen, was adamant in pointing to the spot. Justice though was done as a weak effort from Dzmitry Khlebasolav failed to deceive Mihhail Lavrentjev between the sticks, the ‘keeper diving to his left o make a comfortable save. No amount of spring in his leap could save him though as with half-time mere moments aware an absolute thunderbolt of a drive from Artjem Rakhmanav, some 30 yards out on the left whistled past him on its inexorable course to the top corner of the net.
From that narrow margin, the Belarusians got off to a storming start to the second half as Lavrentjev was beaten twice within the first five minutes of the second half as first Igor Khmeliuk then Aliaksandr Mrynski found the net in quick succession as tricky Belarusian play opened up gaps in a dawdling defence. Pride though for the Estonians as on 57 Henri Anier broke through to pull a goal back as shadows lengthened across the field, it was Estonia who held sway but unable to breakthrough once more they were forced to settle for honourable defeat.

Estonia U18: 1-Mihhail Lavrentjev, 2-Andrei Veis, 3-Vladislav Tšurilkin (53. 17-Igor Subbotin), 4-Mikk Reintam (74. 13-Artjom Artjunin), 5-Meelis Peitre (54. 14-Sander Sinilaid), 6-Kaspar Kaldoja (53. 19-Alen Stepanjan), 7-Janar Toomet (64. 18-Christian Kõrtsmik), 8-Eduard Komarov, 9-Rauno Alliku, 10-Henri Anier, 11-Aleks Moneš (46. 15-Viljo Tibu).
Substitutes not used: 16-Ander Paabut

Belarus U18: 1-Pilip Vaitsiakhovich, 13-Siarhei Kandratsyev, 2-Artjem Rakhmanav, 3-Yury Halavnitski, 6-Dzmitry Kharytanovich, 5-Dzmitry Baha, 8-Siarhei Liavitski (69. 18-Pavel Zaitsav), 10-Dzmitry Khlebasolav (64. 16-Yahor Kayalkov), 7-Pilip Ivanov (60. 14-Vasil Novikav), 11-Igor Khmeliuk (79. 15-Dzianis Famin), 9-Aliaksandr Mrynski (57. 17-Artjem Salavei).
Substitutes not used: 4-Ihar Yasinski, 12-Yavhen Mialik

Goalscoring:
1-0 Belarus Artjem Rakhmanav 44th minute
2-0 Belarus Igor Khmeliuk 47th minute
3-0 Belarus Aliaksandr Mrynski 50th minute
1-3 Estonia Henri Anier 59th minute

Referee: Silver Kõiv
Assistant Referees: Sten Klaasen, Heigo Paglant
Official Attendance: 250