© EuroFootball.com
The leader of the Lithuanian A Lyga championship, Panevezys Ekranas, had a disappointing start to the UEFA Cup matches, losing 0-2 at home to the Irish club Cork City in the first stage of the competition. This result significantly complicates their situation and leaves little hope for advancing further.
Ekranas 0 - 2 Cork City 25' [0 - 1] Roy O'Donovan 90' [0 - 2] George O'Callaghan
Ekranas lineup: Skrupskis; Klimavicius, Banevicius (51' Saulenas), Paulauskas, Skroblas; Gardzijauskas, Galkevicius (71' Mizigurskis), Tomkevicius, Savenas; Kavaliauskas, Luksys
In this match, Ekranas coach V. Liubsys did not have one of the team's key players, defensive midfielder A. Kucys, due to a serious injury. As a result, D. Galkevicius had a rare opportunity to play and contribute to the Panevezys team lineup.
As expected of the hosts, Ekranas started the match more actively - initially M. Savenas' shot from the penalty area narrowly missed the goal, and on the 9th minute, G. Tomkevicius' powerful shot from inside the penalty area hit the goalpost.
Later, the injured Cork City goalkeeper was replaced by a substitute, and after playing for 20 minutes, the visiting team gained confidence. Their first attempt was somewhat inaccurate, but with the second one, R. Donovonas scored accurately, sending the ball into the net.
This turn of events disrupted the Ekranas players, and they did not create any more dangerous opportunities in the rest of the first half. After the break, the Panevezys team's game intensified. Forward D. Saulenas entered the field instead of defender A. Banevicius, but M. Savenas once again missed near the goal, and only G. Paulauskas saved the team from the opponents' attack at the last moment.
Ekranas' attackers were unsuccessful - P. Luksys' header missed the goal, and the shot by V. Kavaliauskas was easily caught by the Irish goalkeeper. With about 20 minutes left until the end of the match, the attack was strengthened by V. Mizigurskis, but neither him nor Kavaliauskas managed to score.
Furthermore, towards the end of the match, Panevezys suffered another painful blow - goalkeeper A. Skrupskis failed to catch the ball shot into the corner of the goal, which ended up in the net. Therefore, before the second leg match in Ireland, Ekranas has a two-goal deficit.
