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Experiencing two losses in a row, Marijampolė's "Sūduva" ended their losing streak on Tuesday and defeated the guests from the coast - Klaipėda's "Atlantas" at home.
Marijampolė's "Sūduva" stadium, 1600 spectators
Referee - Nerijus Dunauskas
Marijampolė 1 - 0 Klaipėda
61‘ [1 - 0] Willer Souza Oliveira
"Sūduva": S.Klevinskas; Sobol, Mikuckis, M.Skinderis, V.Slavickas; G.Slavickas (73' Kėrys), Kozyuberda, Miklinevičius, D.Maciulevičius (69' Mačiulis); Willer, Shuganov (86' Juška)
"Atlantas": A.Lekevičius; Šarūnas (82' Noreika), Butkus, Gnedojus, Nesterenko; Navikas, Petreikis (36' Surblys), Pokorn, Silič; Aničič, Daunoravičius (59' Žvingilas)
The hosts' goal in this match was once again defended by 23-year-old Saulius Klevinskas. He had suffered an injury, which is why Gytis Padimanskas was the main goalkeeper in the previous match. Meanwhile, for forward Vitalij Šuganov, this was the first time this season he appeared in the starting lineup.
In the beginning of the match, the action didn't last long and already in the third minute after a mistake by the guests' defender, Willer took a long dangerous shot, which Arnas Lekevičius directed to a corner.
In the 11th minute, another situation arose near the "Atlantas" goal, which could have resulted in a goal. After a pass from Willer, "Sūduva's" left-back Giedrius Slavickas shot towards the goal from a comfortable position, but the goalkeeper caught the ball, which bounced off the ground several times.
The "Atlantas" team didn't wait long to respond. In the 16th minute, after deceiving several defenders, forward Luka Aničičius took a strong shot towards the goal, but it was blocked by Saulius Klevinskas, against whom a foul was committed shortly after.
From that moment on, the visitors had the initiative in their hands for about 10 minutes and created several tense situations near "Sūduva's" goal.
Later, the hosts took over the territorial and gameplay advantage. In the 28th minute, G.Slavickas received a great pass from Willer, took a shot from the penalty area, and only a heroic dive by the "Atlantas" goalkeeper saved his team from conceding a goal.
A few minutes later, Darius Maciulevičius was brought down near the penalty area. The Brazilian, Willer, took the penalty kick, but his shot lacked precision.
The "Sūduva's" attacks didn't stop there. In the 35th minute of the match, D.Maciulevičius failed to take advantage of an ideal opportunity to score a goal. He deceived the defender in the penalty area, took a shot from a few meters, but the goalkeeper confidently caught the ball that wasn't traveling too fast.
Sergejus Koziuberda, the home team's left-back, had the last real chance to score in the first half. He received a great pass from the tall V.Šuganov, ran towards the goalkeeper, but his shot missed just beside the far post.
So the teams went to rest with a tied score. The hosts had the advantage, but couldn't turn it into goals.
The second half began with both teams trying to organize attacks, but they were regularly stopped in the initial phase. The first dangerous episode occurred in the 57th minute near the "Atlantas" goal, when V.Šuganov received a pass from the wing and without stopping the ball, took a shot towards the goal. A.Lekevičius pushed the ball away, but it rolled just beside the post.
In the 61st minute, the first and, as it turned out later, the last goal of the match was scored. D.Maciulevičius was brought down on the right side of the field very far from the goal. The technical Willer lifted the ball into the penalty area, it obstructed one of the players in it, slightly changed direction, and flew into the 'Atlantas' goal. The great shot by the Brazilian demonstrated his usual style and further lifted the spirits of the spectators gathered at the stadium.
After the goal, "Atlantas" pushed forward with greater force, but didn't create anything tangible, only opening the way for "Sūduva's" counterattacks.
In one of these, in the 71st minute, G.Slavickas found himself in a great shooting position, but the ball flew over the goal. After a few minutes, the player was substituted and received remarks from coach Algimantas Gabrys.
Artūras Kerys, who replaced G.Slavickas, actively joined the game. In the 87th minute, he tried to shoot towards the goal, his attempt was blocked, but the ball bounced to Nerijus Mačiulis, who came on after the substitution, but the defender shot over the goal.
After this victory, "Sūduva" is now tied for 5-6th place in the standings with 14 points with Panevėžys "Ekranas". Meanwhile, "Atlantas" continues to hold the eighth place, only ahead of "Šilutė" due to a better goal difference.
