STOCKHOLM, Sweden (Interstat) — In a dramatic reversal of fortune, Molodechno surged to a 3-1 victory over Volna on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in a Week 11 Belarusian First Division match that defied pregame projections and erupted with late-game heroics.

The contest, played at a neutral Stadyen Haradski in Stockholm, was ultimately decided by two stoppage-time goals from Molodechno defenders, turning what had been a tense, back-and-forth affair into a decisive win for the home side. The result handed Molodechno a winning start to its league campaign at 1-0-0, while Volna fell to 0-1-0.

The match unfolded in a manner few anticipated. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a narrow 1-0 win for Volna, though its ELO rating system gave Molodechno a slight 52 percent probability to win. The early stages suggested a physical battle, with four yellow cards issued in the first half alone. Volna’s Denis Klepach was booked in the 17th minute, followed by Molodechno’s Vladislav Yasyukevich in the 27th. A flurry of cautions just before halftime saw Molodechno’s Yuri Kozlov and Volna’s Daniil Tkachik enter the referee’s book in the 44th and 7th minutes, respectively.

The scoring, however, belonged to a quartet of players identified only by name in the official event log. Thomas Price opened the account in the 33rd minute, giving one side an early lead. Jack Williams doubled that advantage in the 46th, seemingly putting his team in command. Volna responded before the hour mark, as Ilya Sushchinskiy, the midfielder from Pinsk, found the net in the 64th minute to cut the deficit to 2-1. Sam Snaith then appeared to restore a two-goal cushion in the 72nd minute, making it 3-1.

The critical sequence of the match, however, began in the 14th minute of play, where the official log notes Ilya Sushchinskiy’s goal for Volna. This created the core match dynamic: a one-goal game with Volna pressing for an equalizer. That pressure culminated in a frantic finale deep into added time.

With the clock surpassing 90 minutes, Molodechno’s defense transformed into its most potent attack. In the third minute of stoppage time, defender Evgeni Voyna, a native of Minsk, rose to score a crucial goal, extending Molodechno’s lead to 4-2 and effectively sealing the result. Not content, fellow defender Petr Kazantsev added an exclamation point just two minutes later, in the 90+5th minute, slotting home Molodechno’s fifth goal. The final whistle blew moments later on a 5-2 scoreline.

The late brace from Voyna and Kazantsev, each playing the full 90 minutes, were the key performances of the match, showcasing a remarkable contribution from the back line. For Volna, Sushchinskiy’s full-match effort and goal provided the sole bright spot. The match concluded with a final caution for Volna’s Kirill Kovsh in the 90+5th minute, underscoring a frustrating end for the visiting side.

The victory gives Molodechno immediate momentum in the BLR: 1. Division standings and a perfect record across all competitions this season. Volna, meanwhile, is left to regroup after a loss in its first outing of the league campaign, having conceded multiple late goals in a match it had hoped to keep close.