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Gradually preparing for the new Lithuanian football season, the "A Lyga" clubs played friendly matches over the weekend. In the Ukraine tournament semifinals, "Sūduva" lost to the "Shakhtar" youth team, "Žalgiris" ended the match against a Russian club in Cyprus goalless, "Vilnius" experienced a crushing defeat, and "Kaunas" played in Turkey with two teams, ended as a draw and secured a victory.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday at 10:30, "Sportimos" arena in Vilnius will host matches between "Vėtra" and "Atlantas".
1 - 3 "Shakhtar-3"
In the Sunday semi-finals of the eight-team tournament in Alušta, Marijampolė's "Sūduva" had to admit the superiority of their opponent, Donetsk's "Shakhtar" third team.
Karolis Jasaitis scored a goal for the Marijampolė team, while Viačeslavas Podnebenojus, Kirilas Dorošenka, and Jaroslavas Rakitskis stood out in the "Shakhtar" youth (up to 19 years old) team.
In the battle for third place, Marijampolė will play against the team "Nikolaev", while the finals will be contested by the "Shakhtar" youth team and the youth team of the Donetsk club (under 21 years old).
0 - 0 "Mordovia"
"Žalgiris": Šetkus; Dubyna (84' Krukovski), Miliškevičius (46' Aleksa), I.Steško, Choruži, Ostap, Bursuc, A.Steško (75' Veikutis), Puotkalis (70' Romašovas), Lemežis, Morinas.
Vilnius' "Žalgiris", with the return of Belarusian legionnaire Aleksejus Dubyna, played against the Russian club Saransk's "Mordovia" in Cyprus.
The match started with some key players missing due to injury and illness. The game reflected the strength of the opponent - several opponents were from the top Russian league. The fight went on for the full 90 minutes. There were a few good chances, but I. Morinas and A. Romašovas missed the target. Our goalkeeper E.Šetkus saved us," said club president and head coach Arminas Narbekovas, speaking to the official "Žalgiris" website.
1 - 6 "Nosta"
"Vilnius": Semež; Freidgeimas, Erasmo (Stanaitis), Artiomovas, Radavičius; Paulinho (Everton), Andreson, Rinaldo (Muller), Lukša; Kumbrevičius (Wasiu), Papšys (Adilson)
During the final training camp matches in Turkey, a match between "Vilnius" and Odesa's "Chornomorets" was expected, but the latter preferred a match with "Chimki", so the Vilnius team decided to play against Novotroitsk's "Nosta".
The Russian First League club, led by the most productive player of the 2006 "A Lyga," former "Vėtra" forward Sergejus Kuznecovas, secured a 6-1 victory.
1 - 1 "Tekstilshchik-Telekom"
"Kaunas": Malinauskas, Radžius, Bagužis, Kunevičius, Manchkhava (75' Kšanavičius); Ledesma, Bartkus, Kvaratskhelia, Pehlic, Beniušis (46' Strakhanovich), Rimkevičius
In the friendly match in the evening in the Kemer city of Turkey, the main "Kaunas" lineup played against Russia's First League contenders, Ivanovo's "Tekstilshchik-Telekom".
The Russian team started the match more successfully, but the game later equalized. In the 34th minute, taking advantage of an error by the Kaunas defenders, who failed to coordinate their actions, the "Tekstilshchik" players scored from 8 meters out, bypassing goalkeeper Mindaugas Malinauskas.
After the conceded goal, "Kaunas" did not falter, and shortly after equalized. After a quick attack by the Lithuanian champions, initiated by Givi Kvaratskhelia and Andrius Bartkus in the middle of the field, the ball reached Artūras Rimkevičius. His powerful shot was blocked by the opponents' goalkeeper, but the first to react to the ball was "Kaunas" legionnaire from Brazil Rafaelis Ledesma, who struck accurately from a sharp angle, equalizing the score.
In the second half, "Kaunas" players dominated the field and created several dangerous opportunities - Edinas Pehličius had a great chance, as well as Artūras Rimkevičius, whose shot forced the opponents' defenders to clear the ball from the empty goal. However, the final result remained unchanged - 1-1.
"Kaunas-2" 4 - 1 "Bucaspor"
"Kaunas-2": Stonys (46' Hertelendi); Khubutia, Tarasenko, A.Sanajevas; Vičius, Činikas, Birškys, Zubavičius, Vyšniauskas; Hleb, Grigalevičius (46' Normantas)
Meanwhile, the second squad played against the Turkish third division club "Bucaspor". The match started with the Turks having a slight advantage, but the young "Kaunas" players soon took control and scored three goals in the first ten minutes without response: Belarusian Viačeslavas Hlebas found the net twice, and another newcomer of the team Marius Činikas scored once.
In the second half, the Belarusian national team striker scored again and completed his first "hat-trick" for the Kaunas team, burying any hopes of a comeback for the Turks. In the 65th minute, "Bucaspor" managed to score, but that didn't save them from defeat, and the second "Kaunas" squad won with a score of 4-1.
