© EuroFootball.com
In the 18th round of the "General Financing A League" matches, VMFD "Žalgiris" won a very important victory after a tough battle with Alytus "Dainava" with a score of 1:3.
In the 24th minute, Žalgiris scored their first goal after a long break, with forward Calum Elliot finding the net. At the beginning of the second half, in the 52nd minute, the advantage was doubled with a precise header by Paulius Janušauskas. Five minutes later, "Dainava" reduced the deficit with a goal by Lukas Kochanauskas, but at the end of the match, substitute Mantas Kuklys scored the third goal, securing the victory for the visitors.
The match began with a long-range shot from Žalgiris defender Tomislavas Peko, which was confidently saved by "Dainava" goalkeeper Aurimas Dubickas. The visitors tried to take control of the ball from the start, but only succeeded after five minutes. While "Dainava" managed to stop their opponents, they struggled in attack.
The hosts often had corner kicks and took penalty shots, but it did not bring them much benefit. In the 22nd minute, Calum Elliot created a very dangerous opportunity. The forward deceived the defender marking him and took a shot from the penalty area, but the ball flew just wide of the goal post. A couple of minutes later, one of the most productive players in the "General Financing A League" was more accurate.
The Žalgiris player successfully received a precise pass from a teammate and confidently sent the ball into the "Dainava" goal. Despite conceding a goal, the hosts continued to search for ways towards the Žalgiris goal, but each of their more dangerous attacks was successfully stopped by the Žalgiris defenders or goalkeeper Armantas Vitkauskas. Towards the end of the first half, both teams exchanged several dangerous shots and rough challenges.
In the second half, the Žalgiris players significantly improved their performance and doubled their lead in the 52nd minute, when Paulius Janušauskas scored a precise header into the opponent's goal. Despite playing at home, "Dainava" did not give up even after conceding the second goal.
In the 57th minute, Dzūkai's efforts in attack paid off with a goal. During a counterattack, Arsenijus Buinickis took a powerful shot towards the goal, but it was saved by Armantas Vitkauskas. Lukas Kochanauskas, who was also involved in the attack, quickly reached the rebounding ball and sent it into the unguarded goal. This episode gave the "Dainava" players even more energy.
Taking the initiative, the Alytus team launched a series of attacks, but they could not find a way past the reliable Žalgiris goalkeeper who protected the goal throughout the match. Patiently playing, the visitors got their chances in extra time. Tomislavas Pekas broke through sharply on the left side of the field and passed the ball to Mantas Kuklys, who confidently stopped and sent it into Aurimas Dubickas' goal.
"Dainava" 1 - 3 "Žalgiris"
25' [0 - 1] C. Elliot
52' [0 - 2] P. Janušauskas
57' [1 - 2] L. Kochanauskas
90' [1 - 3] M. Kuklys
