World News
Luxembourg Lose Again
Luxembourg 1 Belarus 2
Belarus kept their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign in good health with a win over a Luxembourg side yet to register a single point.
Goals from Timofey Kalachev and Vitaliy Kutuzov earned Belarus a 2-0 lead before Chris Sagramola pulled one back.Luxembourg had their chances to equalise but Belarus held on in what is proving a competitive Group G.
Only the resolve of Jeff Strasser in the heart of the Luxembourg defence prevented Belarus from making an early breakthrough as he made a couple of early interceptions.
Oleg Strakhanovich`s shot was blocked by Sebastien Remy when he tried his luck from 25 yards.
Belarus were by now dominating and after 19 minutes Kalachev set up Kutuzov who fired over.
Eventually, the persistence of the visitors paid off. Kutuzov forged an opening for Kalachev who found the top left corner with his left foot.
Almost immediately, it was nearly 2-0 when the scorer set up Aleksandr Kulchy whose shot rattled the post.
Luxembourg then threatened for the first time when Daniel Collette`s long-range effort forced a save from Yuri Zhevnov who soon had to field a Strasser header.
Early in the second half Belarus looked determined to kill the game with Sergey Kornilenko missing before Kutuzov`s shot found the arms of Jonathan Joubert.
However, Kutuzov was not to be denied after 53 minutes when his shot from distance found the net.
Kalachev missed with a long-range effort and then Viacheslav Hleb forced Joubert to make another save.
Sagramola forced Zhevnov to make a save and it was the same player who pulled one back for the hosts two minutes later.
Sagramola was the beneficiary of good work from Jerome Bigard and drilled a shot into the bottom left corner.
Vladimir Korytko missed a good chance as Belarus tried to restore their two-goal cushion but with eight minutes remaining Strasser almost equalised with a header from a Remy corner that went just wide.
Rene Peters also missed the target and soon Belarus and head coach Yuri Puntus were celebrating.
Copyright (c) 2008 Press Association
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