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FBK "Kaunas", the leader of the "A Lyga" suffered their second defeat of the season in the first 24th round match at home against the Vilnius "Vėtra" team and had an unsuccessful performance before the upcoming important UEFA Europa League second qualifying round matches.
Kaunas S.Dariaus and S.Girėno stadium, 260 spectators Referee - Marijus Jazbutis 1 - 2 25' [0 - 1] Sergiy Kuznecov 61' [0 - 2] Sergiy Kuznecov 80' [1 - 2] Andrius Velička
"Kaunas": Malinauskas; Kančelskis, Bagužis, Kunevičius (46' Barevičius), Radžius; Manchkava, Bartkus, Ivaškevičius, Pehlič (71' Pilibaitis); G.Juška (46' Klimek), Velička
"Vėtra": V.Žutautas; Sasnauskas, Raliukonis, Žudys, Jankauskas; Šernas (62' Litvinas), Miloševski (89' Preikšaitis), Božinovski, Vėževičius (88' Azizi); E.Juška, Kuznecov
At the beginning of the match, both teams showed no desire to attack, and the game was often stopped due to injured players. In the 19th minute, "Vėtra" launched a dangerous attack and Sergiy Kuznecov's shot was deflected behind the goal line.
Raising a corner to try to clear the ball to your goalpost, Mindaugas Bagužis hit the ball with a ricochet out of bounds. In the penalty area melee that ensued, the shot by Bobi Božinovski was repelled by the goalkeeper Mindaugas Malinauskas.
This was a warning to the Kaunas team, but they did not learn from their mistakes and in the 25th minute, a penalty kick was awarded to the home team after Toms Kančelskis fouled Darvydas Šernas. Dejan Miloševski's shot was blocked by M.Malinauskas, but "Vėtra" got another chance and S.Kuznecov scored the first goal of the match with his head.
In the 38th minute, Dejan Miloševski unsuccessfully attempted a long shot, and at the end of the first half, "Kaunas" forward Andrius Velička had perhaps the most realistic chance to equalize the score, but the top scorer of the "A Lyga" missed the goal with his head. The first half ended with the visitors holding a narrow lead.
Three minutes after the break, the same A.Velička broke through the edge of the penalty area, but shot straight at goalkeeper Vaidas Žutautas. Later, two close-range passes from Nukri Manchkava into the penalty area did not find a recipient.
"Kaunas" failed to capitalize on their chances to score, and midway through the second half, they were punished - Dejan Miloševski broke through on the left side and passed the ball to the completely unmarked Sergei Kuznecov in the middle of the penalty area. M.Malinauskas couldn't reach the ball, so the Ukrainian legionnaire had to score into the empty net and double "Vėtra's" lead.
Late in the game, A.Velička threatened the visitors' goal twice, but one of his shots was saved by the goalkeeper, and an unexpected pass did not reach any of his teammates. In the 77th minute, Šarūnas Litvinas, without stopping the ball, shot straight at the goalkeeper, while a fast counterattack ended with A.Velička one-on-one against Žutautas, and he cleverly bypassed him to give the hosts hope.
Minutes later, that hope was nearly extinguished by a mistake from M.Malinauskas, who dropped the ball after a D.Miloševski shot, and it was close to ending up in the net. Kaunas switched to an all-out attack on the opponent's goal, and at the start of extra time, A.Velička could have equalized the score, but the striker failed to score with his head.
"Vėtra" held on and secured their ninth season victory, tying points with fourth-placed "Atlantas" after Friday's match, and forced this season's impressively performing leader "Kaunas" to lose for the second time at their own stadium.
After the match, "Vėtra" coach Aleksandras Tarchanovas stated that the victory against the leader of the "A Lyga" was well deserved: "We played better, attacked more dangerously, and didn't allow the opponents to create many chances. Especially in the first 35 minutes, our advantage was obvious. Although our game still lacks stability, we don't play the entire match evenly, but overall I'm satisfied with the game. Before becoming the coach of "Vėtra", I watched a video of the match against "Kaunas", which we lost 1-4. Then, too, it was an equal game, but "Kaunas" took better advantage of our defensive mistakes. Today, we defended well and celebrated the victory."
Asked if this was the most enjoyable victory as the coach of "Vėtra", A.Tarchanovas replied: "Yes. Against "Šilutė" we won clearly, we beat "Vilnius" by a narrow margin, and today, in a battle between two leaders, it was a great opportunity to see what our team is capable of. "Vėtra" is capable of winning medals and we don't give up in the fight for the "A Lyga" awards."
