The 8th round of the First League: return to Visaginas and a sweet Brazilian prize

2024-05-07 07:15 © lff.lt

„TOPsport First League“ the 8th round of the championship became a beautiful prelude to the festive Mother's Day for most teams. However, not all clubs considered favorites gave victories to their mothers. Unexpected results led to changes in both the leader and the outsider in the league.

Prize. „Snickers' Day off“ - Thiago Bomfimas smiled. The coach of Kretinga's "Minija" from Brazil made a deal with his student Deividas Šiūša, that for each goal scored, he personally will buy a "Snickers" chocolate bar. Playing against Klaipėda's "Neptūnas" defender treated himself well. He equalized the score to 1:1 at the beginning of the second half and then, confusing several opponents in a spectacular move, changed the score to 2:1. Although in the last minutes of the game the team from Klaipėda took away the victory (2:2), D. Šiūša, scoring his first goals of the season, surely had something to celebrate.

The former leader "Neptūnas" scattered points in the 8th round and another contender for the gold - Jonava's "Be1" club. The residents of Jonava were leading 1:0 in Panevėžys against "Ekranas", but soon conceded a goal by Nigerian Abdulgafar Adewale, and in the final moments of the match - a goal by Japanese Ryoki Imaizumi (1:2). Misfortune blocked the path to the top for the "Be1" team. The residents of Jonava are third with 15 points, but they can reduce the gap of three points from "Neptūnas," who are in second place, thanks to a match in hand.

Comeback. "Excellent stadium, excellent game," - Slawomiras Cisakowskis clapped his hands. Vilnius "Riteriai" managed by a Pole took advantage of their competitors' stumbles and returned to the top of the tournament table. "Riteriai" defeated Vilnius BFA team 2:0. However, the tough capital's derby took place not at Vilnius BFA arena, but further south - at the Visaginas stadium located about 150 km away. In this picturesque stadium surrounded by nature last year, they spectated the impressive First League Stars' Day event. After winning in Visaginas, "Riteriai" have 19 points, leading "Neptūnas" by 1 point.

Plungė's "Babrungas" and Kėdainiai's "Nevėžis" are breathing down the neck of the team in fourth place. Plungės opened the 8th round at home against Tauragės "Taura". "Babrungas" was considered the clear favorite and took the lead 1-0 after just 10 minutes, but the guests showed character and after goals by Aurimas Raginis and Israeli Moshe Halabi, they took the lead 2-1 before halftime. The hosts managed to equalize the score 2-2 only through tremendous efforts but could not do more. For the league newcomer "Taura," this was the seventh consecutive round without a loss.

Coincidences. The fifth stepping "Nevėžis" could have jumped into third place, but left two points (1:1) in Garliava. The hosts broke the visitors' defense after Smith Vignon Dohemeto's goal. The goalkeeper from Benin with "Nevėžis" played for the second time in his career and both times scored a goal, resulting in a draw with the same score. Kėdainiai were saved from failure by Japanese Hirotaka Yamada's 62nd-minute goal.

In thirteenth place with 7 points, "Garliava" is on the rise, while the recovering Mažeikiai "Atmosfera" are right behind them. Marius Šluta's students won their second straight victory in the last three rounds, defeating Panevėžys B team 2:1 away. The most interesting events in Panevėžys began in the 10th minute when a Mažeikiai player Egidijus Gritkus put the guests ahead, Noel Mbo immediately equalized, but Donaldas Ogundu scored the winning point in the 88th minute.

Mothers. The organization "Hegelmann" warmly greeted their fans on Mother's Day, but did not give them victories. The reserves of the Kaunas district club were no match for the outsider "Šiauliai" B at home losing 1:4. Kaunas with 19 goals conceded remains the worst-defending team in the league, although tied on points with "Minija" in eleventh place (after 8). However, thanks to the victory, the residents of Šiauliai escaped from the last place, which was taken by "Gargždai" B with an equal number of points (4).

In Gargždai, "Atmosfera" did not match "Kauno Žalgiris" reserves, who reinforced themselves with several main team players. The first goal for Žalgiris was scored by Tomas Stelmokas. This 18-year-old, 187 cm tall forward with 6 goals became the sole leader of the league. After three consecutive victories, the residents of Kaunas with 12 points are aiming for the leaders' top five.

1lyga.lt information; Photo by FK Kauno Žalgiris