DOLBIZNO, Belarus (Interstat) — Niva Dolbizno and Dnepr Rogachev played to a 1-1 draw on Friday in a Belarusian First Division match at Stadyen Niva, a result that left both teams unbeaten through the early phase of the season.

The match, part of the BLR: 1. Division Week 12 schedule, saw the visiting side from Rogachev strike first before Dolbizno found a second-half equalizer to share the points. The contest was a tightly fought affair, reflective of the defensive discipline both sides displayed for large stretches.

Dnepr Rogachev opened the scoring in the 36th minute through midfielder Egor Kortsov, who emerged as the visiting side’s top performer. Kortsov’s goal provided a lead that Rogachev carried into halftime. The home team, spurred on by the local support, increased its pressure after the break and found the crucial leveling goal in the 71st minute from attacker Pavel Klenje, a native of Minsk.

The match was a physical contest, with six yellow cards issued by the officiating crew. The first caution came in the 13th minute to Rogachev’s Yaroslav Shkurko. Niva Dolbizno saw Vladimir Starostin booked just after halftime and Vladimir Dobrolovich cautioned in the 71st minute, coinciding with Klenje’s equalizing goal. Rogachev players Maksim Shilo, Dmitri Vashkel and Artur Kuzmich also received yellow cards during the match.

With the draw, Niva Dolbizno’s record in the First Division this season moves to two wins, one loss and one draw. Across all competitions, the club holds an identical record. Dnepr Rogachev remains undefeated in league play, now with one win and one draw. Their overall record also stands at one win and one draw.

The result defied pre-match projections from Interstat, whose game simulator had predicted a 1-0 victory for Dnepr Rogachev. Furthermore, the statistical service’s ELO system had given Niva Dolbizno a 64 percent probability to win the match outright, making the draw a slight underperformance for the hosts based on those metrics.

Niva Dolbizno entered the match in strong form, having recorded consecutive 3-0 victories on the road against Volna on Feb. 4 and Dnepr Mogilev on Jan. 21. The draw halts that winning streak but extends their unbeaten run to three matches.

Looking ahead, Dnepr Rogachev will return to action quickly, hosting Dnepr Mogilev next Friday, Feb. 13, in their next First Division fixture. Niva Dolbizno faces a longer break before its next contest, a road match at Shakhtyor Petrikov scheduled for Friday, March 13. Their subsequent home game at Stadyen Niva will be against Osipovichi on March 20.