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The Lithuanian champion "Ekranas" from Panevėžys successfully overcame the barrier of the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League - after an unsuccessful first match away, the Panevėžys team crushed the "Elbasani" club from Albania at home and advanced to the next stage of the competition, where on July 25 and August 2 they will meet with the strongest Croatian team, Zagreb's "Dinamo".
Panevėžys "Aukštaitija" stadium
Referee - David Malcolm (Northern Ireland)
3 - 0 "Elbasani"
(First leg 0-1, aggregate score 3-1)
13' [1 - 0] Povilas Lukšys
48' [2 - 0] Giedrius Tomkevičius
71' [3 - 0] Povilas Lukšys
"Ekranas": Skrupskis, Klimavičius, Banevičius, Paulauskas; Gardzijauskas, Savėnas, Kučys (Petrauskas), Michalčuks, Tomkevičius (Saulėnas), Šlekys (Kavaliauskas), Lukšys
In the first match, the Lithuanian champions lost in Albania with a score of 0-1, and at the Panevėžys "Aukštaitija" stadium they had to seek revenge. The injured Alfredas Skroblas could not help "Ekranas," so the team's coach Virginijus Liubšys decided to play with three defenders, five midfielders, and two forwards. Experienced forward Vaidotas Šlekys, who recently joined the club, ran onto the field alongside the team's attacking leader Povilas Lukšys.
The match started successfully for the home team - already in the 13th minute, P. Lukšys leveled the overall score with a header into the goal after a pass from Latvian Legionnaire Ruslan Michalčuk from the flank.
Despite conceding a goal, the Albanians attacked more often, but the home team had more opportunities to score. Striker Vaidotas Šlekys and defender Arūnas Klimavičius had dangerous shots on goal. A powerful shot by team captain Mantas Savėnas was parried by the "Elbasani" goalkeeper. Gediminas Paulauskas had a good chance to increase the lead when the visitors unsuccessfully attempted an offside trap, but the "Ekranas" defender missed the target.
After the break, "Ekranas" scored another goal - in the 48th minute, Giedrius Tomkevičius sent the ball into the opponent's goal from a corner kick, putting his team ahead. After conceding a goal, the visitors attacked, while the hosts successfully counterattacked, and luck saved the Albanians once when P. Lukšys' shot hit the post.
Finally, the Panevėžys team succeeded in counterattacking in the 71st minute when P. Lukšys, who had been troubling the opponents' defense all match, found himself in the penalty area, deceived a defender, and with an accurate shot into the near corner of the goal, defeated the visitors' goalkeeper, ensuring "Ekranas" a victory and a ticket to the second stage of the qualifying tournament.
"Before the match, I expected exactly the kind of game from my players that they demonstrated. Our team prepared very carefully for the competition, as we had lost by a minimal score in Albania. We wanted to score the first goal as quickly as possible in our home stadium. Our wishes came true. Probably Povilas Lukšys' goal unsettled the "Elbasani" players. Perhaps the guests' game was also influenced by the tiring journey," said V. Liubšys.
Other results of the first round matches held on Tuesday:
"Baku" (Azerbaijan) 1 - 0 "Sioni" (Georgia) Bolnisi
(First leg 0-2, aggregate score 1-2)
"Tiraspol Sheriff" (Moldova) 2 - 0 "Pyunik" (Armenia) Yerevan
(First leg 0-0, aggregate score 2-0)
"Rabotnicki" (Macedonia) Skopje 0 - 0 "Dudelange" (Luxembourg)
(First leg 1-0, aggregate score 1-0)
