Shocking champions' pitfall: 'Žalgiris' squandered a two-goal lead and lost to 'Panevėžys'

2025-04-25 22:09 © alyga.lt

The last round of the first leg of the „TOPsport A League“ began with a match in the capital, where Vilnius „Žalgiris“ hosted „Panevėžys“. The visitors managed not only to erase a 2-goal deficit but also to defeat the Vilnius team – the match ended with a score of 3:2 (1:2).

The Žalgiris players pressed their opponents from the very beginning of the meeting. Henrique Devensas found Jurijus Kendyšas in the penalty area, who failed to hit the target, but moments later, the Brazilian scored with a header. Just a few moments later, the forward could have doubled the score after a corner, but the ball landed on the net behind the goal.

The second goal came in the 24th minute when the green and whites intercepted the ball, and after a pass from Ebenezers Ofori, cutting through the opponent’s defense, Patrykas Matyžonokas found the target. Very soon, Faustas Steponavičius sent the ball to Salomon Kouadio, who rattled the goal frame from close range. However, by the end of the first half, the score was narrowed, though the author of the goal was Thomas Basila, who sent the ball into his own net.

In the 53rd minute, the Vilnius team prepared a dangerous counterattack when Kassimas Hadji shot after a cross from Bruno Tavares, with Vytautas Černiauskas demonstrating an impressive reaction. In the 71st minute, the lead of Vladimir Čeburino's team dissolved. Another goal was scored against Arpadas Tordajus' defended net, and the culprit was J. Kendyšas, who scored an own goal.

In the 81st minute, the Panevėžys team scored once more – Lucas de Vega executed a masterful shot from outside the penalty area into the far corner of the goal, putting the opponent's goalkeeper out of action.

With this victory in the 9th round of the „TOPsport A League“, „Panevėžys“ improved their situation and rose to 7th place with 10 points, while „Žalgiris“, having suffered a defeat, remains in 6th place with 12 points.