Belarus W thrashed Armenia W 6-0 in Gori to win Group C6 and qualify for the European World Cup playoff round, with Anastasia Kovaleva scoring twice.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
The match was barely two minutes old when Belarus went ahead. A corner into the box was turned into her own net by Armenia defender Veronika Asatryan, handing the hosts the dream start.
Belarus doubled the lead in the 19th minute through Anastasia Kovaleva, who finished from close range after a scramble in the box. Four minutes later, Kovaleva struck again — this time firing home from the centre of the area to make it 3-0 inside 23 minutes. Armenia's Liana Ghazaryan was booked for a foul in the 29th minute as the visitors struggled to contain the pressure.
Belarus had two players yellow-carded before half-time — Yulia Slesarchik (39') and Anastasia Shlapakova (43') — but the 3-0 scoreline at the break reflected their dominance.
Anna Sinyavskaya made it 4-0 in the 56th minute, converting a right-footed shot from the centre of the box after a pass from Melana Surovtseva. The goal prompted substitutions from the Belarus bench, including Kristina Tikhonovodova replacing the two-goal Kovaleva.
Armenia's second own goal of the night arrived in the 81st minute when A. Karapetyan deflected the ball into her own net from open play. Daria Protasyuk completed the rout in the 86th minute, heading home from Tikhonovodova's cross.
The turning point
The opening own goal inside two minutes. Armenia's game plan of sitting deep and frustrating Belarus lasted barely 120 seconds before Asatryan's unfortunate touch put the hosts ahead. From that moment, Belarus had no reason to rush but every incentive to pour forward, knowing goal difference could matter in a tight group.
Key performers
Anastasia Kovaleva — scored twice in a four-minute burst (19', 23') that effectively ended the contest. Both finishes were composed strikes from inside the box, and the brace gave Belarus a three-goal cushion before the half-hour mark.
Anna Sinyavskaya — added the fourth goal early in the second half, killing any faint hope of an Armenia comeback. Her 56th-minute right-footed strike was well placed from Surovtseva's assist.
Daria Protasyuk — came off the bench in the 82nd minute and scored within four minutes, a well-taken header from Tikhonovodova's delivery. A substitute's impact that sealed the 6-0 margin.
By the numbers — interpreted
Belarus scored six goals with two of them credited as Armenian own goals (Asatryan 2', Karapetyan 81'). The 3-0 half-time lead reflected complete control of the contest. Belarus had no need to chase the game and still managed three more goals after the break. The attendance of 20 at the neutral venue in Gori underlined the low-profile nature of this League C Group 6 fixture.
What it means
Belarus finish top of Group C6 with 9 points from four matches, two clear of Kazakhstan (7 pts), who had already completed their programme. Armenia end bottom with 1 point from four games. The win secures Belarus a place in the European qualification playoffs for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup, which will be held in Brazil from 24 June to 25 August 2027. The playoff draw and schedule are yet to be confirmed.
Verdict
Belarus did what they needed to do — win and win big — against an Armenia side that struggled to cope with pressure from the opening whistle. The dominance was never in doubt from the second minute onwards. The real test lies ahead in the playoffs, where the opposition will be far stiffer than a limited Armenia outfit.
Match Events
Own Goal
Own Goal
assist: C. Tikhonovodova
Belarus W and Armenia W have met 1 times — Belarus W won 1, Armenia W won 0, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2026. Belarus W leads the head-to-head with 1 victory from 1 meeting. A combined 3 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 3.00 per match (3 for the home side, 0 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 0 matches (0%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 1 game (100%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 0–3 in 2026.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 3 Jul 2026