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The UEFA Cup matches started successfully for Lithuanian clubs - vice-champion "Kaunas" defeated "Portadown" club in Northern Ireland with a score of 3-1 and took a big step towards the second round, while the duel between "Rhyl" and "Sūduva" ended goalless. The return matches of the first round will take place in Lithuania in two weeks on July 27th.
Portadown's Shamrock Park stadium Referee - Daniel Stalhammar (Sweden) "Portadown" 1 - 3 2' [0 - 1] Nukri Manchkava 9' [0 - 2] Edin Pehlic 47' [0 - 3] Andrius Velička 63' [1 - 3] Gary McCutcheon
The match started very successfully for the team from Kaunas - already in the second minute of the game, a penalty kick from 20 meters led the team forward by Georgian legionnaire Nukri Manchkava, and after just seven minutes, the Bosnian Edin Pehlic doubled the visitors' lead.
After the break, just a couple of minutes into the game, "Kaunas" further increased their lead thanks to team leader Andrius Velička, and in the middle of the second half, Gary McCutcheon, who missed a chance in the first half, reduced the hosts' deficit.
The remaining part of the match saw "Kaunas" hold on and celebrate a convincing victory, which gave the leaders of the "A Lyga" a significant advantage in the pair and should make them feel confident in the return matches.
"Winning away with a 3-1 score is very good. Such a result satisfies us. The whole team can be praised for a good game, all players performed excellently. When the result was 3-0, the men may have relaxed a bit, but after conceding a goal, they regrouped and secured the victory," said Romualdas Kontrimas, the director of the "Kaunas" club, to the official "A Lyga" website.
He was pleased that the Kaunas footballers were enthusiastically supported by about 70 Lithuanians in Portadown: "They surpassed all local fans. It can be said that we won on both fronts - on the football field and in the stands."
Rhyl's Belle Vue Stadium Referee - Lassin Isaksen (Faroe Islands) "Rhyl" 0 - 0
"Sūduva": Padimanskas; D.Čigladze, Gvildys, Grigas, Mikuckis; Miklinevičius, Cordeiro, Adomaitis, Mačiulis, Urbšys; Braga
The meeting was quite intense, and neither team managed to break through the opponent's defense until the end of the first half, when a shot-passed ball from "Sūduva" defender David Čigladze flew just beside the far post, and Ottavio Braga's attempt was saved by "Rhyl" goalkeeper Paul Whitfield. The hosts threatened the Marijampolė team's goal only once - Gyčius Padimanskas had to clear the ball after a dangerous Marco Connolly corner kick.
The second half unfolded similarly to the first - for a long time, nobody had the opportunity to score, and only towards the end of the match, the hosts increased the tempo in search of victory and created dangerous attacks from set pieces. In the 72nd minute, after a header from a penalty kick that went just beside the goal, James Brewerton missed, and six minutes later, after another penalty kick, Chris Sharp also missed.
Thus, as the match ended goalless, neither team gained an advantage, so the teams will have to resolve their differences in Marijampolė, where for "Sūduva," it will be important not to concede away goals and in order to progress further, they will need to make an effort to score at least once.
"I rate the match as normal. We didn't have many chances. Mačiulis had to punish the opponents, being one-on-one against the opponents' goalkeeper. I am satisfied with the team's performance. The opponents played quite tough. The referees allowed the game to be played as it's not allowed in Lithuania. The men showed willingness, focus. I am thankful to them. Everything starts anew in Marijampolė," said Algimantas Gabrys, the coach of "Sūduva."
"The intrigue remains. Our team is stronger. Both teams had opportunities. The opponent played a tough English style of football. We played normally. There are good chances to progress to the next round," said defender Darius Gvildys.
"It was simply bad luck. I need to work. I joined a new team and need to feel the teammates. It was an opportunity, which I didn't seize. Mačiulevičius' pass was very good. It was a bit unexpected to me. Like the whole team, I will try to redeem myself in Marijampolė. I think the opponent is beatable," said Nerijus Mačiulis about his missed opportunity.
