Dinamo Minsk Overcome Lincoln Red Imps in Hard-Fought Europa League Third Round First Leg

Dinamo Minsk secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Lincoln Red Imps in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League third-round qualifier, held at a neutral venue in Hungary due to sanctions imposed on Belarusian clubs. The match, which took place at the Municipal Stadium Mezőkövesd, was marked by a gritty and physical contest, with both teams fighting hard to gain the upper hand.

Despite the difficult circumstances of playing away from home, Dinamo Minsk started the match strongly, dominating possession and applying early pressure on the Gibraltar league champions. However, it wasn’t until the 36th minute that they finally broke through the Lincoln defense. A corner delivered by Pavel Sedko found Aleksei Gavrilovich, who rose above the defense to head the ball into the net, giving the Belarusian side a 1-0 lead.

Lincoln Red Imps, known for their disciplined defense, struggled to create clear-cut chances throughout the match, with their most dangerous moments coming from set pieces. De Barr and Toni both had opportunities to equalize in the first half but failed to find the target. The Red Imps’ frustration began to show as they committed numerous fouls, leading to several yellow cards, including cautions for Ibrahim Ayew and Graeme Torrilla.

The second half saw Lincoln Red Imps pushing for an equalizer, but Dinamo Minsk’s defense remained resolute. The Belarusian side’s physical approach to the game resulted in multiple free kicks for the Red Imps, but the Gibraltar side couldn’t capitalize on these opportunities.

As the match progressed, Dinamo Minsk sought to extend their lead. In the 86th minute, midfielder Pedro Igor came agonizingly close to doubling their advantage, striking the woodwork from a corner. However, just a minute later, Igor made amends by converting from close range after a scramble in the box, making it 2-0 and providing Dinamo with a crucial cushion ahead of the second leg.

The closing minutes of the match were frenetic, with Lincoln Red Imps pushing forward in search of a goal to take back to Gibraltar. Their best chance came deep into stoppage time when Nano took a direct free-kick after a foul by Dinamo’s Amian, but the effort was well saved by Lapoukhov. Dinamo Minsk then launched a counter-attack, which saw Khvaschinski’s effort saved by Lincoln goalkeeper Santana, ensuring the match ended 2-0.

This result puts Dinamo Minsk in a strong position as they prepare for the return leg in a week’s time. The Belarusian side will be looking to build on this performance and secure their place in the next round of the Europa League qualifiers. Meanwhile, Lincoln Red Imps face an uphill battle to overturn the deficit, but they will hope the home advantage in Gibraltar can inspire a comeback.