Brothers in arms for Belarus

Belarus romped into the finals of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship after a 4-0 win in Wronki against Poland secured a 5-1 aggregate triumph.

Spectacular performance
After a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Belarus, the Polish were marginal favourites to progress tonight, but Belarus ended their dreams of U21 glory with a spectacular performance.

Shabara strikes
The first half was extremely tight until the 38th minute when Poland goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak saved from Vitali Nadziyenski. Within seconds Tsimafei Kalachou had crossed the ball back into the box and Oleg Shkabara duly blasted it into the net.

Gleb miss
Poland made two substitutions at the break, but had to change their tactics yet again when defender Jacek Kowalczyk was sent off for a second bookable offence just two minutes after the restart. A minute later Belarus were awarded a penalty when Michal Stasiak fouled Sergei Kornilenko, however Aleksandr Gleb missed from the spot.

Advantage doubled
It was not long before the visitors doubled their advantage, though, as Aleksei Baga struck after a precise pass from Kalachou. In the 68th minute Stasiak conceded another penalty and Viacheslav Gleb did not repeat his brother's earlier error in making it 3-0 with a precise spot-kick.

Brothers combine
The final Belarus goal arrived in the 71st minute when Aleksandr Gleb scored from a pass from Viacheslav to secure a place in next summer's finals. Meanwhile, Poland were left to rue what might have been, as well as the absence through flu and injury of several players.