"Small leagues"

[krdel]

Vitebsk-Energetik 1:0

It was not a great match to be honest. Vitebsk won with a deserved penalty, but without that situation it could have easily ended goalless. Lets hope it will be enough.

[seso]

Vitebsk-Energetik 1:0

Every time I read about the Belarussian league, I am always reminded of the COVID-19 pandemic period!

[amenina]

Vitebsk-Energetik 1:0

It was not a great match to be honest. Vitebsk won with a deserved penalty, but without that situation it could have easily ended goalless. Lets hope it will be enough.

Wasn't this the second leg already?

https://championship.abff.by/en/news/vi ... yssuu-ligu

[krdel]

You are right.

The first leg on wednesday ended 0;0, so Vitebsk is promoted.

[bugylibicska]

Astana - Ballkani 0:0, a bit disappointing after their away win, but Astana are still in the running, next: Dinamo Zagreb at home and a win might secure the 2nd place

Qarabag - Leverkusen 0:1, next Molde away and Qarabag cannot afford to lose, but 3rd place look nailed

Servette - Sheriff 2:1, Sheriff lost any hope for 3rd place

Fradi - Genk 1:1, next: Cukaricki away and a must win, while hope for a Fiorentina win against Genk

So, in the next round Astana must beat Dinamo Zagreb, Qarabag must not lose at Molde, Sheriff are out and Fradi must win. Tough round.

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Astana - Dinamo Zagreb 0:2, it's over for the Kazakhs, they'd need a win at Plzen and hope for a Ballkani win at Zagreb - it won't happen

Molde - Qarabag 2:2, bravo Qarabag, they need only the same (or better) result as Molde in the last round (Qarabag - Hacken, Leverkusen - Molde)

Sheriff - Slavia Praha 2:3, Sheriff are out

Cukaricki - Fradi 1:2, Fradi need a point in Budapest to be sure of qualification against already qualified Fiorentina, if they lose Genk can pass them beating Cukaricki by 2 goals

So, Astana and Sheriff are out, but Qarabag have a very good chance and Fradi a decent one to make it.

Plzen - Astana 3:0, as expected, Astana finished 3rd

Qarabag - Hacken 2:1, bravo Qarabag, they've finished 2nd

Roma - Sheriff 3:0, Sheriff finished at the bottom with a single point

Fradi - Fiorentina 1:1, great campaign by Fradi, finished 2nd unbeaten

Good luck for Qarabag and Fradi in the draw. Qarabag have little chance, probably underdogs against any opponent, so I'd like them to fish out a big name, like Milan...Fradi have decent chances against a few teams like Sturm Graz, Maccabi Haifa, Servette, Molde etc. so I wish them paired with one of them and go at least one round ahead.

[seso]

18 MDs have been played in Cymru Premier.

No issue for TNS, another emphatic win (3-0) against Penybont! Connah's Quay has 3 wins in a row and will probably easily keep the second position. TNS and the Nomads have already secured a top-6 place in the first phase.

Aberystwyth Town and Pontypridd United are in the bottom two positions. These two clubs and Colwyn Bay will definitely be in the bottom-6 places in the first phase.

[bugylibicska]

Braga - Qarabag in the EL and Olympiakos - Fradi in the ECL. My wishes weren't granted. Qarabag were drawn against another small team instead of a Milan or Benfica or Galatasaray and still probably go out without much fanfare. Fradi couldn't get an easier opponent than Olympiakos and will be slight underdogs. There're at least half of the unseeded more preferable than the Greeks.

[dnina10]

Braga - Qarabag in the EL and Olympiakos - Fradi in the ECL. My wishes weren't granted. Qarabag were drawn against another small team instead of a Milan or Benfica or Galatasaray and still probably go out without much fanfare. Fradi couldn't get an easier opponent than Olympiakos and will be slight underdogs. There're at least half of the unseeded more preferable than the Greeks.

Don't know if we can call Braga a small team anymore. Europa League KO regulars who often go far. Hardly a small team

[bugylibicska]

Braga - Qarabag in the EL and Olympiakos - Fradi in the ECL. My wishes weren't granted. Qarabag were drawn against another small team instead of a Milan or Benfica or Galatasaray and still probably go out without much fanfare. Fradi couldn't get an easier opponent than Olympiakos and will be slight underdogs. There're at least half of the unseeded more preferable than the Greeks.

Don't know if we can call Braga a small team anymore. Europa League KO regulars who often go far. Hardly a small team

I'm surprised, but otherwise no problem, it's your opinion.

[seso]

We had several interesting matches during MD20 in Cymru Premier.

Caernarfon Town led 0-1 until the 78th minute but then TNS scored twice, won 2-1 and secured the top position in the first phase of the championship.

We also had a match between clubs in positions 3 vs 2 and Connah's Quay scored two goals in the last 5 minutes (against Newtown) and secured the second position in the first phase.

In the relegation battle, big win for Pontypridd United against Aberystwyth Town (2-0).

We also had good away wins by Penybont and Bala Town.

Barry Town United, Colwyn Bay, Aberystwyth Town and Pontypridd United have secured a place in the bottom 6 positions of the first phase.

Interestingly, Colwyn Bay has the highest average attendance this season! They also hold the record attendance in a match with 1,411!
The top thee clubs (TNS, Connah's Quay Nomads and Newtown) have the lowest average attendance with about 300 per match.

[seso]

With two MDs remaining until the end of the first phase of Cymru Premier, we had several exciting matches:

Big win for Bala Town 2-1 against Newtown and they climb to third position!

Penybont beat Pontypridd Town 1-0; Pontypridd Town remains last.

Big win for Caernarfon Town too! 2-1 against Colwyn Bay; Caernarfon Town, Haverfordwest County and Penybont will battle in the last MD for the last position of the top-6 group (second phase). Colwyn Bay remains on 10th position.

Barry Town United failed to beat Cardiff MU (0-0) at home and they remain on 9th position. Cardiff MU has qualified for the top-6 group.

TNS scored three goals in the first 28 minutes and easily beat Connah's Quay away (0-4) in the derby!

Aberystwyth Town failed to beat Haverfordwest County (1-1) at home and they remain on 11th position.

30-year old FW Aaron Williams of Newtown AFC is the top scorer. He was born in West Bromwich, England and he has played for several Welsh and English clubs. The highest level he has competed in England has been the third tier with Walsall and Peterborough United. He lost the two previous Welsh top-scorer awards to Scot Declan McManus (TNS), but the latter has been injured for much of this season.

[krdel]

Champion Partizan Soligorsk will not play in the Belarusian First league and will be replaced by "Football Center" Brest (ex Ruh academy).

[seso]

Cymru Premier [Friday]:
Big win for Aberystwyth Town (1-0 against Colwyn Bay) in the relegation derby and the Seasiders overtake the Seagulls and climb to 10th position!

Saturday:
With one MD remaining in the first phase of Cymru Premier, we had two matches today:
TNS hammered Cardiff MU 8-0! A Cardif MU player was sent off at 29'. Five TNS players scored and 21-year old Brad Young scored a hat-trick on his birthday! He played for Aston Villa in his youth.
Also big win for Barry Town United (4-0 against Newtown AFC). Ben Blythe, who scored 2 goals, is on loan from Swansea City, which means that he’s a top player!

In the last MD, we have Cardiff MU vs Caernarfon Town, Haverfordwest County vs Bala Town and Penybont vs Connah's Quay; these matches will decide which club will compete in the top-6 group in the second phase.

[seso]

The last MD of the first phase of Cymru Premier was played today:

In the most important matches, we had Haverfordwest County 2–3 Bala Town and Cardiff MU 2–2 Caernarfon Town, which means that Caernarfon Town got the last position of the top-6 group.

The New Saints easily beat Newtown (3-1) and they have a 15-point lead over Connah’s Quay Nomads.


The second phase involves the top-6 and the bottom-6 clubs playing against each other (home and away matches).

TNS needs to only win a handful of matches and they will be champions.

In the bottom-6, Aberystwyth Town, Colwyn Bay and Pontypridd United are in the worse position for relegation.

EDIT: 10 out of the 25 goals scored in this MD, were scored after the 85th minute!

[amenina]

The last MD of the first phase of Cymru Premier was played today:

In the most important matches, we had Haverfordwest County 2–3 Bala Town and Cardiff MU 2–2 Caernarfon Town, which means that Caernarfon Town got the last position of the top-6 group.

The New Saints easily beat Newtown (3-1) and they have a 15-point lead over Connah’s Quay Nomads.


The second phase involves the top-6 and the bottom-6 clubs playing against each other (home and away matches).

TNS needs to only win a handful of matches and they will be champions.

In the bottom-6, Aberystwyth Town, Colwyn Bay and Pontypridd United are in the worse position for relegation.

TNS are 25 points ahead of the 3rd-placed Bala Town with 10 matches to play. So TNS will be assured of European qualification with 6 more points.

And if in the next round, TNS win and Bala Town lose, TNS will be assured of European qualification!