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Judge Kim Milton Nielsen's show from Denmark, a painful defeat and mistakes in defense. The Lithuanian national team should swallow the bitter pill of losing to Serbia and Montenegro with a score of 0-2, suffering their second defeat in the World Cup qualifying matches and significantly complicating their chances to fight for the second spot.
In other group matches, Bosnia and Herzegovina narrowly defeated Belgium at home with a goal from S.Barbaric, surpassing Lithuania and rising to the third position. In Group 7, Serbia now leads with two points ahead of Spain, Belgium holds the fourth position, while fifth is San Marino with no points.
Tournament standings: 1. Serbia and Montenegro 7 4 3 0 12-0 15 2. Spain 7 3 4 0 10-2 13 3. Bosnia and Herzegovina 7 2 4 1 8-8 10 4. Lithuania 7 2 3 2 7-5 9 5. Belgium 7 2, 2, 3, 7-8 8 6. San Marino 7 0, 0, 7, 2-23 0
Serbia and Montenegro 2 - 0 Lithuania 18' [1-0] Mateja Kezman 75' [2-0] Sasa Ilic
Lithuania: Karčemarskas, Paulauskas, Džiaukštas (85 D.Žutautas), Skerla, Skarbalius; E.Česnauskis, Preikšaitis (72' Savėnas), Šemberas, Mikoliūnas (68' Radzinevičius), D.Česnauskis; Jankauskas.
The hosts started the game more actively, controlling the ball for a long time, but failing to get close to the goal, while the visitors successfully defended. Lithuania tried to threaten the opponent's goal, but Jankauskas, after receiving a pass from Mikoliūnas, couldn't manage to shoot in a crowded defense.
The first goal came in the 18th minute due to a mistake by the goalkeeper and defenders - after a free kick, Ž.Karčemarskas failed to clear the ball, and M.Kežman took advantage of this "gift" from about 10 meters away, shooting accurately into the corner of the goal.
After conceding a goal, the Lithuanian team tried to attack, but Preikšaitis' shot from a distance was saved by the goalkeeper, E.Česnauskis' attempt was inaccurate, and D.Česnauskis couldn't reach a pass from Jankauskas. The Serbians responded with dangerous headers and a penalty kick, which was saved by Ž.Karčemarskas.
In one of Lithuania's attacks, E.Česnauskis was clearly fouled with a hand in the penalty area, but the referee did not award a penalty kick, so the first half ended with the hosts leading by a narrow margin.
After the break, the tension grew as the Serbians played more aggressively to secure a victory. In the second half, the referee K.M.Nielsen started his show, awarding a very questionable penalty kick to Lithuania, but Ž.Karčemarskas saved S.Miloševič's shot.
Shortly after, a second shot was taken by the Serbians, and A.Skarbalius tried to clear the ball but it fell to Ž.Karčemarskas, who was pressured by M.Kežman and knocked the ball towards the empty goal, where S.Ilič scored with a header, doubling Serbia and Montenegro's lead and ultimately breaking the Lithuanians' resistance.
Despite a dangerous header by A.Skerla almost correcting his mistake, the ball hit the top of the goal net, and E.Česnauskis' shot next to the goal. Later, Skerla headed the ball out from Lithuanian goal line, once again saving with his head, as the result remained unchanged and the Serbians celebrated a hard-fought victory.
On Wednesday, the Lithuanian national team will need to beat Bosnia and Herzegovina to keep their slim hopes of securing the second spot in Group 7, while the Serbians will face Spain away for the top spot.
Player ratings for the Lithuanian national team: (Feel free to share your opinion in the comments)
Ž.Karčemarskas - 5.5 Saved a questionable penalty kick, followed by a close range shot and a few more shots, but both goals were scored after episodes in which the goalkeeper played unreliable.
G.Paulauskas - 6 Played actively in defense, doing a decent job.
A.Skerla - 5.5 Earned a yellow card, and after his crucial mistake the second goal was scored against Lithuania, but at the end of the game he dangerously headed over the goal and cleared a third potential goal from the goal line.
R.Džiaukštas - 6 On the pitch, as a defender should be, he wasn't very noticeable.
A.Skarbalius - 7 The most experienced player in the national team played very reliably in these matches, closing defensive gaps. It's worth mentioning that he played in an unusual position for him - right back.
E.Česnauskis - 6 Provoked the opponent to handle with handball in the penalty area (not noted by the referee), had a dangerous shot from long range, and was one of the most active players in the team.
D.Česnauskis - 5 Unlike in the match against Belarus, he wasn't very noticeable on the field.
D.Šemberas - 6 Played fairly safely and without mistakes.
A.Preikšaitis - 6.5 One of the most active players in the national team. At the beginning of the match, he had a dangerous shot from distance, and made several sharp passes.
S.Mikoliūnas - 5 In the first matches of the tournament playing in the starting lineup, Mikoliūnas seemed off.
E.Jankauskas - 5.5 Delivered a great pass to his teammate, tried to fight, but didn't have many opportunities to score, as he was isolated in the attack and received too few passes from the midfield.
