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Pakruojo "Kruoja" on Tuesday in the 7th round of the A League matches in Panevezys defeated Vilnius "Reo" 2:1 (2:1). Goals for Pakruojo were scored by Sergejus Žigalovas and Artūras Žulpa.
The goals were scored in the first half
The match started actively with "Kruoja" showcasing their typical style - from the beginning of the match, they pushed forward. In the 6th minute, S. Žigalovas scored a goal with a header after a set piece (1:0).
"Kruoja" didn't take long to score the second goal. In the 11th minute, A. Žulpa defeated "Reo" goalkeeper Valdas Jakimavičius with a precise shot into the bottom corner of the goal (2:0).
Having scored two goals, "Kruoja" gradually stepped back, while "Reo" tried to soften the result. The efforts of the Vilnius team paid off - in the 32nd minute after a set piece, "Reo" captain Andžejus Romeiko took advantage of a mistake by Pakruojo's goalkeeper Marius Eltermanas and defenders.
At the end of the half, the Vilnius team could have leveled the score. Mindaugas Grigalevičius broke away from M. Eltermanas, but missed the goal.
After the break, the game was intense. One team or the other was more active and performed better. "Kruoja" managed to maintain their winning result.
Different opinions on the outcome of the match
After the match, A. Žulpa said he felt tired but was happy with the turn of events: "We won deservedly. As always, we scored at the beginning of the match, but then we relaxed. The whole team contributed to my goal. Alfredas Skroblas made a great pass to Sergejus Žigalovas, and he very skillfully passed the ball to me. I saw an open corner and directed the ball towards the goal."
Former forward, now playing in the defense, "Reo" captain A. Romeiko disagreed with A. Žulpa and thought the match should have ended in a draw: "It's difficult to play against "Kruoja." They are a good team. We constantly missed goals in the last minutes, this time at the beginning of the match. The coach emphasized that "Kruoja" is good at utilizing set pieces, but we lacked concentration."
The head coach of "Kruoja," Aidas Dambrauskas, was pleased not only with the victory but also that the team scored two goals for the first time this season: "Tough match, lots of struggle. The trend continues - we score a quick goal and then lose the initiative. Our team is new, so I believe we will gradually improve."
"It wasn't successful. The players played well, but sometimes it works out, and sometimes it doesn't. That's football," - commented "Reo" coach Stasys Baranauskas on the match.
