Belarus round-up: Belshina beaten in opener

Minsk successful
Gomel had the chances to upset Minsk, but Russian striker Anrei Nazarov was off target three times in the first half. After the break, Belarussian international Vitaly Volodenkov set up Alexander Khrapkovski to score the only goal on 59 minutes.  As tempers frayed in the closing stages, Gomel coach Sergei Podpaliy was sent off for dissent.

Belshina edged out
In Soligorsk, injury-hit Shakhtior overcame the absence of six key players to edge out defending champions Belshina 1-0. Dmitry Podrez curled in a free-kick to secure a winning start for Yuri Vergeichik, Shakhtior's new head coach.

BATE held
Elsewhere, FC BATE Borisov were held to a scoreless draw by newly promoted FC Torpedo Zhodino. BATE dominated the first half, but failed to capitalise on their chance, and Torpedo went close to stealing victory on several occasions.

Galukhin penalty
Elsewhere, FC Dnepr-Transmash Mogilev beat Lokomotiv-96 Vitebsk 3-1, and FC Dinamo Brest played out a scoreless draw with FC Slavia Mozyr. Torpedo-MAZ Minsk beat FC Neman Grodno 1-0 through an Ivan Galukhin penalty, and FC Zvezda-VA-BGU Minsk went down 1-0 to FC Molodechno 2000, Alexander Repetsky the scorer.