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Lithuanian clubs in the newly started Baltic League began their campaign without any losses - this was evident on Wednesday after playing their first matches against four other teams. Lithuanian champions "Kaunas" played against Narva "Trans" in Vilnius, and despite being behind twice in the game, they ultimately celebrated a 3-2 victory, while Vilnius "Žalgiris" managed to secure a 1-1 draw against Estonian champions "Levadia" in Tallinn.
Vilnius "Sportimos" Arena
Referee - S. Braga (Latvia)
FBK 3 - 2 Narva
11` [0 - 1] Aleksandr Dubokin
61` [1 - 1] Ričardas Beniušis
65` [1 - 2] Sergei Kazakov
83` [2 - 2] Givi Kvaratshkelia
88` [3 - 2] Rafael Ledesma
"Kaunas": Malinauskas; Kunevičius, Radžius, Bagužis; Manchkava, Bartkus, Strakhanovic (46' Hleb), Kvaratskhelia, Pehlič (73' Činikas); Rimkevičius (46' Beniušis), Rafael
"Trans": Ussoltsev; Kazakov, Kulik, Lepik, Lipartov; Dubokin, Gorjatšov, Ivanov, Tarassenkov; Dobrovolski, Popov
"Kaunas" with the Senegalese legionnaire Pascal Mendy on the field started the match with three defenders, and in the 11th minute, the "Trans" team took advantage of free space on the field - Aleksandras Tarasenkovas received the ball on the left side of the penalty area and made a pass to the center, where the unmarked Aleksandras Dubokinas scored from close range.
This was the only chance for the Estonian visitors in the first half - after scoring the goal, they completely retreated to defense and tried to create counterattacks, while "Kaunas" controlled the game, creating several opportunities to score.
Just a few minutes after the missed goal, "Kaunas" attackers Brazilian Rafael Ledesma and Artūras Rimkevičius had chances, but they lacked accuracy.
In the 26th minute after a beautiful combination, Olegas Strachanovičius passed the ball to R. Ledesma, who crossed it into the penalty area, but the opponents' goalkeeper was the first to reach the ball and managed to avert the danger. Just a minute later, the young Andrius Bartkus elegantly dribbled the ball past an Estonian defender in the penalty area but failed to shoot accurately.
After several unsuccessful attempts to break through the visitors' defense, "Kaunas" continued to press forward, and in the 29th minute, R. Ledesma, who was actively participating in the game, took a dangerous penalty kick, but the opponent's goalkeeper played confidently. Before the end of the first half, with just under 10 minutes remaining, O. Strachanovičius took a dangerous shot from the edge of the penalty area, but the ball passed beside the "Trans" goalposts.
In the following attacks, after a corner kick lifted by R. Ledesma, Givi Kvaratskhelia was very close to the goal, but his header shot passed just beside the visitors' goalpost. After a few minutes, the same G. Kvaratskhelia took a strong shot from outside the penalty area, but straight into the opponent's goalkeeper.
In the second half, "Kaunas" coach Vladimir Kurnevas replaced the less successful O. Strachanovičius and A. Rimkevičius with forwards Ričardas Beniušis and Viaceslav Hleb. The latter especially revitalized the attacks of the Kaunas team and at the beginning of the half several times dangerously attacked the opponents' goal, shaking the "Trans" goalposts once with a shot.
After playing for over an hour, "Kaunas" finally managed to equalize the score when after a Nukri Mankava's long pass from the flank, Ričardas Beniušis scored a goal from close range. However, the equal score of 1-1 lasted only a few minutes, as shortly after, the Estonian team launched a similar attack and Sergei Kazakov redirected the ball into the goal after a pass from the flank.
After the missed goal, "Kaunas" players pressed on to equalize the score. In the 67th minute, G. Kvaratskhelia shot slightly over the goal, and the ball passed beside the "Trans" goal. Just ten minutes later, R. Beniušis, appearing on the field in the second half, had an excellent opportunity to score, but his header was caught by the opponent's goalkeeper.
However, "Kaunas" did not give up and as the match approached its end, not only did they equalize the score again, but they also snatched a hard-fought victory. In the 83rd minute, Givi Kvaratskhelia lifted a corner from 6 meters away, and in the last couple of minutes before the end of regular time, Brazilian R. Ledesma scored a winning goal with a precise shot.
Tallinn "Sportland" Arena, 220 spectators
Referee - A. Sipailo (Latvia)
Tallinn 1 - 1 Vilnius
31` [1 - 0] Indrek Zelinski (pen.)
74` [1 - 1] Eimantas Poderis
"Levadia": Kaalma; Malov, Čepauskas, Lemsalu, Šišov; Leitan, Nahk, Dmitrijev, Smirnov; Zelinski, Kink
"Žalgiris": Šetkus; Choruži, I.Steško, Ngapunu, Aleksa; Lemežis, A.Steško (46` Puotkalis), Poderis, Vilėniškis, Morinas; Mižigurskis
Estonian champions "Levadia" became the first team from the country to secure at least a point in a duel against a Lithuanian club. The Estonian team failed to overcome the fourth-placed team from the Lithuanian championship, Vilnius "Žalgiris," and had to settle for a 1-1 draw, despite dominating almost the entire match.
Although "Levadia" started the match more actively, the Lithuanian visitors created the first dangerous opportunity, shaking the opponent's goalposts. After this episode, the game leveled out, and both teams struggled to create anything dangerous.
In the middle of the first half, "Levadia" reactivated and for five minutes pressed their opponents, but the comfortable chances were not taken by Maksimas Smirnovas and Tarmo Kinkas. However, the club eventually earned an eleven-meter penalty, when Indrek Zelinski was brought down in the penalty area. The penalty was successfully converted by the veteran himself.
The match continued at a high pace, but both teams found it difficult to create dangerous opportunities on the slippery field.
Despite making a substitution for Artūras Steško with Andrius Puotkalis during the break, the course of the match remained unchanged - "Levadia" continued to dominate, and with the start of the second half, Tarmo Kinkas missed good opportunities to score.
However, in the 74th minute, "Žalgiris" delighted over fifty fans in the stadium when defender Eimantas Poderis equalized the score with a great penalty shot from more than 30 meters away - "Levadia" goalkeeper Martinas Kaalma couldn't do anything against the precise shot.
Although after this goal "Levadia" became more active, and the talented Estonian Tarmo Kinkas missed several great chances, the rather dull match ended in a 1-1 draw.
