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On Wednesday, two postponed matches of the "A Lyga" championship were played due to Lithuanian clubs' participation in European tournaments. The favorites playing at home both secured victories - "Vėtra" narrowly defeated "Nevėžis", and "Ekranas" broke down "Šiauliai" resistance in the second half, while unstoppable "Kaunas" secured another win.
In the 15th round match in Vilnius, the resurging "Vėtra" faced the tournament underdog Kėdainiai "Nevėžis". The two teams met for the second time this season. In their first match, "Vėtra" emerged victorious at home with a 2-0 scoreline. In today's match, there were several changes in the "Vėtra" lineup. Aleksandras Pšeničnikovas played in defense instead of Nerijus Sasnauskas, Aidai Preikšaičio was replaced by Edvinas Blažys on the field. According to "Vėtra" coach Edgaras Gessas, Aidas Preikšaičius was given a rest, and Nerijus Sasnauskas had not fully recovered from an illness yet.
The first half saw an even game. Initially, the visitors attacked more, but later the initiative shifted to the hosts. In the 13th minute, Edvinas Blažys had a great opportunity to score, but his shot in the penalty area was off target. "Vėtra's" attacking leader Sergejus Kuznecovas had another chance to score in the 23rd minute, but his header missed the target. Towards the end of the first half - in the 44th minute, "Nevėžis" players could have taken the lead. After Marius Bezykornovo's shot, "Vėtra" was saved by an impressive leap by goalkeeper Vaidas Žutautas. The first half ended goalless at 0-0.
After the break, the hosts' game was revitalized by the appearance of midfielder Konstantinas Talancevas and forward Darvydas Šernas. They orchestrated a successful attack in the 49th minute. Konstantinas Talancevas broke through on the left flank, passed the ball to the center of the penalty area - where Darvydas Šernas struck towards goal, hitting the post, but was the first to rebound and head the ball into the empty net. "Vėtra" took the lead 1-0. It was Darvydas Šernas' first match in this year's "A Lyga".
The goal inspired the hosts to continue attacking. In the 52nd minute, Sergejus Kuznecovas broke into the penalty area from the center and had a shot saved by the "Nevėžis" goalkeeper. The pressure from "Vėtra" continued, and in the 53rd minute, Konstantinas Talancevas provided a pass from the flank, but Sergejus Kuznecovas failed to connect with the ball.
In the 56th minute, Donatas Vencevičius passed the ball accurately from the center of the field, and after Sergejus Kuznecovas' pass to the center, Dejan Milošeskis had a chance to score but missed the target. The game leveled until the 35th minute when "Nevėžis" defender Marius Bezykornovas could have equalized the score with a shot from 26 meters out, shaking the "Vėtra" goalpost.
At the end of the match, in the 90th minute, "Vėtra" could have extended their lead: Rolandas Karčemarskas passed the ball accurately to Bobi Božinovski, who tried to chip the goalkeeper but missed, and the ball ended up in the "Nevėžis" goalkeeper's hands. The match ended with a narrow 1-0 victory for "Vėtra".
After the match, "Vėtra" coach Edgaras Gessas was not satisfied with the players' performance: "It was a tough game. "Nevėžis" played well, they didn't feel the pressure because they weren't considered favorites. It was harder for us in this regard. Also, in the first half, we had to adjust our game because we started two new players in the main lineup. I am grateful to the boys for breaking the game after the break and creating several beautiful moments against the opponents. The substitutions were successful, Konstantinas Talancevas and Darvydas Šernas not only activated the game on the flanks but also created the goal that led to the victory."
Darvydas Šernas, who scored the winning goal, expressed his joy at the opportunity to make an impact: "It was very difficult to sit on the bench and wait for my chance. I wanted to prove to myself and others that I am ready to play successfully. I didn't expect to score a goal in my first match. The most important thing is that the team won, and I am happy to contribute to this victory."
Meanwhile, in the 20th round match in Panevėžys, the local team "Ekranas" faced "Šiauliai". For the reigning champions "Ekranas", this match unexpectedly turned into a battle for the second position, and the game ended in a very intense and competitive manner. However, after the break, the hosts managed to focus and were led upfront by the Moldovan legionnaire Sergejus Pogrebanas, who sent the ball into the net with a beautiful strike, and towards the end of the match, Egidijus Varnas secured the victory for the Panevėžys team with another header goal.
In these matches, "Šiauliai" had good opportunities to score through David Arlauskis and Andrius Šidlauskas, but they failed to convert them into goals.
After the match, "Ekranas" head coach Virginijus Liubšys celebrated the win over Šiauliai: "Today, "Šiauliai" is no longer the same team (which "Ekranas" defeated in the second round with a similar result - ed. note). Today we had a good game that was entertaining for the spectators. "Šiauliai" goalkeeper played very well. I am delighted that we managed to win."
Asked about Egidijus Varnas, who defended "Šiauliai's" honor last year and scored a goal in this match, V. Liubšys said that "if he had played the entire match, he would have scored three goals."
"Today, "Ekranas" played with passion and determination to win," praised "Šiauliai" coach Saulius Vertelis after the match. He added, "In the first half, we managed to compete evenly. We organized our game from defense, tried to counterattack, had several opportunities, but we didn't capitalize on them. The old saying was confirmed - 'if you don't score, they will.'" He concluded, "Compared to the first games, we played much better."
Following these matches, "Ekranas" and "Vėtra" pushed "Šiauliai" to fourth place and share the second position, while "Kaunas" continues to lead without any stumbles. In the 23rd round match, the runner-up's opponent for the second time in the past week was Marijampolės "Sūduva," and once again, Kauno's team emerged victorious. One of the deadliest snipers in the league, Andrius Velička, and the young midfielder Linas Pilibaitis stood out in the winning team.
Wednesday's match results:
Referee - Audrius Kancleris Vilnius "Vėtra" Stadium, 350 spectators 1 - 0 48` [1 - 0] Darvydas Šernas
"Vėtra": V.Žutautas; Sasnauskas, Raliukonis, Žudys, A.Jankauskas; Milošeski, Pšeničnikov, Vencevičius, Blažys (42` Šernas); Kuznecov (62` Karčemarskas), Lovčev (46` Talancev)
"Nevėžis": Strukas; D.Adomaitis, Pinskis, Slepakovas, Juknevičius; Venckus, Kestenis, Bezykornovas, Smilginas (81` Macianskis); Činikas (39` Mykolaitis), V.Stankevičius (78` Daunoravičius)
Panevėžys "Aukštaitijos" Stadium, 1150 spectators Referee - Gediminas Mažeika 2 - 0 64` [1 - 0] Serghei Pogreban 88` [2 - 0] Egidijus Varnas
"Ekranas": Skrupskis; Klimavičius, Paulauskas, Galkevičius (46` Michalčuks), Skroblas; Saulėnas (39` Kavaliauskas), Kučys, Savėnas, Tomkevičius; Pogreban, Lukšys (77` Varnas)
"Šiauliai": Lukovičs; Oriol (14` D.Arlauskis (88` Žukov)), Lunskis, Juodeikis, S.Galyuza; Lapeikis, Afanasenka, A.Šidlauskas, I.Galyuza, Atigbiolaye; Butavičius
Kaunas S.Dariaus and S.Girėno Stadium Referee - Edmundas Gaigalas 2 - 0 29` [1 - 0] Andrius Velička 65` [2 - 0] Linas Pilibaitis
"Kaunas": Kurskis; Manchkava, Kančelskis, Zelmikas, Kunevičius; Pehlič (64` Pilibaitis), Žaliūkas, Kvaratskhelia, Ivaškevičius; Beniušis (53` Klimek), Velička (85` Juška)
"Sūduva": S.Klevinskas; Mikuckis, Gvildys, Samusiovas, D.Čigladze; Slavickas (46` Uselis), Jasaitis, Urbšys, Miklinevičius (72` D.Maciulevičius); Cordeiro, Sagna (46` Braga)
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