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Panevezys' "Ekranas" in the capital could not resist VMFD "Zalgiris" team led by Kamilio Bilinskis, who snatched a victory with a score of 2:1 (0:1)
With four rounds left until the end of the "General Financing A League" season, the intrigue has reached its peak.
In the 32nd round of the Lithuanian championship matches held in the capital on Sunday, Vilnius city football club "Zalgiris" defeated the league leader Panevezys' "Ekranas" with a score of 2:1, which was only the second defeat in the A league for them.
There is now only one point separating the teams in the tournament table.
The victory for the Vilnius team was brought by goals from Polish legionnaire Kamilis Bilinskis in the 63rd and 82nd minutes. The only goal for "Ekranas" was scored by striker Uchenna Calistus Umeh just before halftime in the 45th minute.
The match began with active play from both teams. The teams immediately exchanged sharp attacks. Later, the main action moved to the center of the field.
Zalgiris struggled to impose their rules on the opponents for a long time. The visitors confidently controlled the ball, often finishing attacks with shots from the penalty area.
The hosts showed a lot of effort, willingness, but they rarely managed to create dangerous attacks towards the "Ekranas" goal.
In the first half, the Panevezys team flawlessly executed their task and managed to score a goal just before halftime. Attacker Uchenna Calistus Umeh scored in the 45th minute following perfectly executed attacks.
Before the start of the second half, VMFD "Zalgiris" coach Marekas Zubas made two substitutions.
After the break, the match developed similarly to the first half. Zalgiris relentlessly tried to find gaps in the "Ekranas" defense, but the Panevezys team did not allow them.
However, in the 56th minute, the visitors finally made a mistake. Andro Svrjuga, one-on-one with the goalkeeper, could have equalized the score, but his shot was saved by Emilijus Zubas.
Georgas Freidgeimas extended the successful period for the hosts, taking a dangerous shot from the side.
Finally, in the 63rd minute, Kamilis Bilinskis finished the work started by his teammates, skillfully sending the ball into the goal and equalizing the score.
After taking the initiative, Zalgiris pressed the Lithuanian champions, launching frequent attacks. "Ekranas" coach Valdas Urbonas tried to adjust the situation by sending new players onto the field from the bench. These decisions did not pay off.
Under pressure, the players of "Ekranas" collapsed once again in the 82nd minute. During one of Zalgiris' attacks, the ball passed through the carelessly played champion's goalkeeper Emilijus Zubas, and Kamilis Bilinskis, in the right place at the right time, drowned the hopes of "Ekranas" to win at least a point in this match.
Zalgiris, having won a very important victory, reduced the gap from the Panevezys team to a minimum.
After the 32nd round of the "General Financing A League" matches, "Ekranas" still leads with 76 points, while "Zalgiris" in second place has 75 points.
VMFD "Zalgiris" 2:1 "Ekranas" Panevezys
Goals: Kamilis Bilinskis (63 and 82 min.); Uchenna Umeh (45 min.)
Warnings: Andro Svrjuga (37 min.), Georgas Freidgeimas (73 min.); Ignas Dedura (25 min.), Uchenna Umeh (33 min.), Aurimas Kucys (80 min.)
VMFD "Zalgiris": Armantas Vitkauskas, Luka Pericius, Andrius Skerla, Karolis Urbaitis (46' Vaidotas Silenas), Georgas Freidgeimas, Ramunas Radavicius (46' Egidijus Vaitkunas), Pavelas Komolovas, Paulius Janusauskas, Andro Svrjuga, Andrejus Nagumanovas (75' Calumas Elliotas), Kamilis Bilinskis.
Panevezys "Ekranas": Emilijus Zubas, Yani Urdinovas, Mantas Samusiovas, Ignas Dedura, Giedrius Tomkevicius, Aurimas Kucys, Marko Andelkovic (70' Arsenijus Buinickis), Uchenna Umeh (77' Egidijus Varnas), Aurimas Vertelis, Vytautas Luksa, Vitalijus Kavaliauskas (87' Tadas Markevicius).
