Club Friendly· Season 2026
Gomel edged Zhlobin 3-2 in a pre-season friendly at the Gomel Ice Palace, with Ilya Kravchenko's second-period winner the difference.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
Gomel opened the scoring through Nikita Gostev at 07:04, finishing after Nikita Sapelnikov and Andrei Anokhin combined in the build-up. Zhlobin responded inside four minutes — Ilya Spat levelled at 11:10 with assists from Ruslan Kuznetsov and Vladislav Grishkov.
The second period brought immediate drama. Gomel's Alexander Lipsky put the hosts back ahead just 41 seconds after the restart (20:41), assisted by Nikita Gaidamak and Mikhail Shatilo. But Zhlobin replied again only 27 seconds later — Vyacheslav Gramovich made it 2-2 at 21:08, with Daniil Krikunenko providing the helper.
Kravchenko settled the contest at 48:26, scoring unassisted to give Gomel a 3-2 lead they would not relinquish.
The Turning Point
Kravchenko's goal midway through the final period was the decisive moment. Zhlobin had twice fought back from a goal down — in the first period through Spat and immediately after the second-period restart through Gramovich — but could not find a third equaliser. Gomel's structure held firm in the final 12 minutes, and the visitors ran out of answers.
Key Performers
- Ilya Kravchenko (Gomel): Scored the game-winner at 48:26, a well-taken unassisted strike that proved the difference between the sides.
- Nikita Gostev (Gomel): Opened the scoring early and was a steady presence on the blue line, also wearing an alternate captain's 'A'.
- Ilya Spat (Zhlobin): Levelled the scores in the first period and was a constant threat for the visitors.
- Vyacheslav Gramovich (Zhlobin): Produced the rapid-response equaliser 27 seconds into the second period, showing sharp instincts around the net.
Player of the Match: Ilya Kravchenko (Gomel)
By the Numbers
The match was as tight as the scoreline suggests. Gomel drew first blood and led three times, but Zhlobin matched them twice — both equalisers arrived within four minutes of the preceding goal. The penalty count was light (4-2 in favour of Gomel), reflecting a clean, fast-paced friendly. The attendance of 850 at the Gomel Ice Palace was a strong turnout for a pre-season fixture, with both head coaches noting the energy the crowd brought.
What It Means
This was the final pre-season fixture for both sides. Zhlobin had played three friendlies against different opponents — Lokomotiv, Shakhtyor and Gomel — as part of their preparation schedule. Gomel were playing their first match of the pre-season in front of their home fans. Both teams now turn their attention to the Belarusian Extraleague season, with the Salei Cup (Kubok Saleya) beginning in early August as the official competitive opener.
Verdict
A competitive, back-and-forth derby that served its purpose as pre-season preparation. Gomel's ability to regain the lead for a third time after twice being pegged back suggests useful resilience. Zhlobin, who had the better of the recent head-to-head meetings (26 wins from 50), will want to tighten up defensively after conceding three times. Both sides got what they needed from the workout.
Gomel and Zhlobin have met 50 times — Gomel won 24, Zhlobin won 26, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2020. Zhlobin leads the head-to-head with 26 victories from 50 meetings. A combined 241 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 4.82 per match (110 for the home side, 131 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 39 matches (78%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 43 games (86%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. Zhlobin are currently unbeaten in the last 4 meetings. The highest-scoring encounter finished 7–6 in 2021.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 5 Aug 2026