© EuroFootball.com
On Friday in Vilnius, the only match of the "A League" took place between the local teams "Žalgiris" and "Šiauliai". The spectators who gathered to watch saw an uncompromising and fierce battle on the field with a dramatic ending - the people of Šiauliai snatched victory at the end of the unpredictable match.
2 - 3 4` [0 - 1] Viktor Afanasenko 51` [0 - 2] Ilja Galyuza 75` [1 - 2] Eimantas Poderis 81` [2 - 2] Gerdas Aleksa 86` [2 - 3] Gediminas Butavičius
"Žalgiris": Šetkus; Gražiūnas, I.Steško, Aleksa, Rukštelė; Lemežis, Miliškevičius (60` A.Steško), Poderis, Puotkalis (64` Kaušpadas); Morinas, Labukas
"Šiauliai": Lukovičs; Lunskis, Juodeikis, Oriol, Lapeikis; Afanasenka, A.Šidlauskas, I.Galyuza, S.Butkus, Atigbiolaye; Butavičius
Active at the start of the match, the visitors surged ahead in the fourth minute when, after an individual raid on the left flank, the Belarusian legionnaire Viktor Afanasenko defeated the goalkeeper of "Žalgiris" with a precise shot from the edge of the penalty area.
After this shot, the Vilnius team seemed disturbed - their attacks often faltered before reaching the "Šiauliai" penalty area, and any slightly more dangerous attacks ended with very inaccurate shots on goal.
After about twenty minutes of play, "Šiauliai" doubled their lead when Gediminas Butavičius directed a long shot towards goal, but the goal was disallowed due to offside.
Five minutes later, "Žalgiris" supporters had to hold their heads - Eimantas Poderis missed a free shot from about 10 meters towards goal.
Shortly after, "Šiauliai" had a chance to double their lead, but Andrius Šidlauskas, after an individual raid into the penalty area, shot very inaccurately.
Approaching the end of the first half, "Žalgiris" took control - they created dangerous situations after corners several times, Tadas Labukas shot directly at the goalkeeper from about 12 meters and dangerously shot from distance, but the hosts' best chance of equalizing came around the 40th minute, when after a long cross from the left Igoris Morinas headed inaccurately towards goal from a couple of meters.
However, the last chance in the first half was created by the people of Šiauliai - after receiving a long shot in the penalty area, the most prolific player of the team Ilja Galiūza managed to control the ball, but shot over the goal.
Šiauliai started the second half more actively - after about five minutes, Gediminas Butavičius missed the goal from about 10 meters on the counterattack. But just a minute later, Nigerian legionnaire Amaro Atigbiolaye executed a precise long pass - after which I. Galiūza broke through against the goalkeeper and calmly lobbed the ball over Šetkus in the "Žalgiris" goal.
The second goal seemed to have awakened the hosts, and "Šiauliai" goalkeeper Ingus Lukovičs showed fantastic reactions twice, saving the shots from Žalgiris players from close range.
Just before the end of the first half, the score almost became 3-0: following a counterattack, G. Butavičius shot over the goal in the penalty area, and a couple of minutes later, Žalgiris defender Edgaras Rukštelė almost scored an own goal.
In the 73rd minute of the match, E. Šetkus demonstrated a great reaction, saving a precise and strong free kick from Vilius Lapeikis from about 25 meters.
A couple of minutes later, after a counterattack, T. Labukas found himself with a free shot in the penalty area, but his shot was too weak. Still, a minute later, Žalgiris fans rejoiced - with a strong shot from about 16 meters, E. Poderis sent the ball into the goal.
Five minutes later, in a similar situation, E. Poderis's shot just missed the goal by a hair, but a minute later, Gerdas Aleksa skillfully shot from about 16 meters to defeat the "Šiauliai" goalkeeper for the second time.
However, just when it seemed that Žalgiris players would perform a miracle and snatch victory, everything turned upside down thanks to G. Butavičius - after a pass from Paulius Šidlauskas from the left flank, with a header "deflected" by V. Afanasenko and G. Butavičius, Butavičius half-shot past Šetkus.
Although Žalgiris had several chances to score before the end of the match, the result remained unchanged, and "Šiauliai" dramatically secured very important 3 points.
After the match, in the press conference, Žalgiris coach Mindaugas Čepas was very laconic: "No comments".
Meanwhile, Šiauliai coach Saulius Vertelis celebrated the victory of his players, but did not spare harsher words: "After all, 'Žalgiris' could have equalized in the last two attacks."
"Of course, we are happy with three points on the road, but our problem is that we don't have good substitute players: 'Žalgiris' made changes and liven up the game, while we made changes and weakened - the players who came onto the field do not match the level," said the Šiauliai coach. "We lack higher-level defenders on the bench. The team needs freshness, we need fresh blood."
"Yesterday we had a conversation with team leaders and today the goal was three points," said the coach. "Perhaps it sounded too loud, but we came to Vilnius today to fight for victory."
