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After the fiasco in Liechtenstein, the Lithuanian national team failed to please the fans with a victory - in a friendly match Raimondas Žutautas' pupils lost 0-1 to the Norwegian national team on the road.
For most of the match, our footballers managed to keep the game level and create several opportunities, but in the last half-hour the Norwegian superiority emerged. Initially, Simonas Brenna failed to send the ball into empty goal from a few meters after a corner, and in the 82nd minute Tadas Kijanskas' mistake in the penalty area left the referee no choice but to award a penalty kick.
Although Ernestas Šetkus managed to save Morten Gamst Pedersen's shot into the middle of the goal, the goalkeeper was the first to react to the ball and scored a goal.
In the first half, the Lithuanians successfully defended for a long time, and just before the break they could have pushed forward, but Marius Papšys' header and Ramūnas Radavičius' powerful shot were blocked by goalkeeper Rune Almenning Jarstein.
After the break, the Norwegians dominated, but the Lithuanians again took the initiative after conceding the goal. Dominykas Galkevičius had a chance to score, but his long-range shot was saved by Jarstein.
The Norwegians managed to maintain the winning result and secure important points for the FIFA ranking. Their position will determine the distribution of pots for the draw of the World Cup qualifying matches.
Norway 1 - 0 Lithuania 83' [1 - 0] M.Gamst Pedersen 82' M.Gamst Pedersen (Norway) missed a penalty kick Lithuanian national team lineup: E.Šetkus; R.Radavičius, T.Kijanskas, A.Klimavičius, D.Česnauskis; M.Papšys, L.Pilibaitis, M.Panka (71' P.Leimonas), M.Savėnas (61' D.Galkevičius), E.Česnauskis (57' V.Kavaliauskas); T.Labukas (78' N.Astrauskas). Substitutes: M.Malinauskas, A.Jankauskas, G.Paulauskas.
