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Today "Sūduva", a team from Marijampolė, lost their first UEFA Cup second qualifying round match at the S. Dariaus and S. Girėno Stadium in Kaunas, 0-2, against the multiple-time Belgian champions "Club Brugge".
The Dariaus and Girėno Stadium in Kaunas
Referee - Drago Kos (Slovenia)
Marijampolė 0 - 2
18` [0 - 1] Koen Daerden
70` [0 - 2] Kevin Roelandts
The guests took the lead in the 18th minute of the match when due to a defensive error, Koen Daerden of "Club Brugge" managed to score into an empty net. Despite this goal, the guests handed the initiative over to the Lithuanians, but defended very toughly and counter-attacked dangerously.
However, "Sūduva" was a bit cautious of their opponents and rarely attacked, mostly trying to play on the wings. Towards the end of the first half, Tomas Mikuckis missed a great opportunity to equalize the score, heading the ball over the crossbar from a few meters out.
The second half started with a dangerous attack from "Sūduva", but was followed by several "Club Brugge" attacks. This pressure paid off in the 70th minute when Kevin Roelandts, who had recently come on as a substitute, found himself free near the far post and "shot" past the "Sūduva" goalkeeper from a few meters away.
As the match neared its end, "Club Brugge" launched a real assault on the Marijampolė side's goal, but the Lithuanians held on, with O. Braga almost reducing the deficit in the 85th minute - his header from about 5 meters hit the crossbar.
The second leg will be played in two weeks in Belgium.
Match timeline (from bottom to top)
90+3` The referee signals the end of the match, and "Club Brugge" celebrates their well-deserved victory.
90+3` Andrius Urbšys shoots from the left but misses the goal.
90` Three minutes added.
89` Tomas Mikuckis loses the ball in a dangerous position, but the Marijampolė team manages to defend.
88` Ottavio Braga hits the crossbar! After a corner kick from the left, the ball was headed towards goal from about five meters, but hit the crossbar.
85` K. Roelandts' powerful long-distance shot goes just wide of the goal.
83` Jose Cordeiro replaces Karolis Jasaitis on the field.
80` The Belgians play the ball across from the left. "Sūduva" players clear the ball twice, then "Club Brugge" earns three consecutive corners, and finally, Yulu-Matondo, who recently entered the field, heads the ball off target.
79` "Club Brugge" storms the "Sūduva" goal.
77` Osipovičius shoots from about 15 meters, but the goalkeeper catches the ball.
75` M. Ishiaku is replaced by Yulu-Matondo. The latter shoots from a distance straight at the goalkeeper during the next attack.
73` Englebert receives a skilfully played cross-field ball from the left, but his shot from the edge of the penalty area is slightly off target.
70` GOAL! "Club Brugge" doubles their lead. Defender Brian Priske crosses the ball from the right, and after receiving the ball near the far post, K. Roelandts, who entered the field shortly before, "shoots" past Gytis Padimanskas.
67` M. Ishiaku breaks into the middle of the box and shoots from ten meters. G. Padimanskas displays excellent reflexes, pushing the ball away for a corner kick, and later clearing the ball again after the subsequent corner kick.
66` "Sūduva" has territorial advantage but fails to turn it into a goal.
65` Karolis Jasaitis' long-range shot bounces towards the goal, but the "Club Brugge" goalkeeper S. Stijnen easily catches it.
