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The Lithuanian national football team continues to successfully progress through the World Cup qualifying tournament cycle. Today, Lithuanians managed to secure a 1-1 draw in an away match with the Bosnia and Herzegovina team.
Bosnia and Herzegovina 1 - 1 Lithuania 21' [1 - 0] Elvir Bolic 61' [1 - 1] Marius Stankevicius
65' M. Stankevicius was sent off the field
Lithuania's lineup: Zydrunas Karcemarskas - Rolandas Dziukštas, Marius Stankevicius, Andrius Skerla, Aurelijus Skarbalius - Edgaras Cesnauskis (57' Nerijus Barasa), Deividas Šemberas, Tomas Danilevicius (90+3' Donatas Vencevičius), Deividas Cesnauskis (90' Saulius Mikoliūnas) - Robertas Poskus, Edgaras Jankauskas
The Lithuanian national team started the match brightly and had a great opportunity to score early on, but after a penalty area scramble, T. Danilevicius hit the ball straight at the goalkeeper. Shortly after, the Bosnians had a few decent chances for dangerous shots, but the strong Lithuanian defense countered the threats effectively.
However, in the 21st minute, the hosts took the lead. After Danilevicius lost the ball in their own half, A. Liubinskas' players could not organize their defense in time, and E. Bolic's shot from 25 meters found the net. After the goal, the game settled down and neither team created particularly dangerous opportunities in the first half, with the Bosnians consistently stopping their opponents with rough tackles.
The second half started with the visitors posing a threat again, but the hosts defended well. Nevertheless, in the 61st minute, defender M. Stankevicius managed to equalize the score with a header following a cross from E. Cesnauskis. Just four minutes later, however, Lithuanians were reduced to ten men - the same M. Stankevicius pushed his opponent, who fell as if tripped, and he was sent off the field.
Despite being a man down, the Lithuanians still managed to launch dangerous counterattacks. The closest chance to snatch victory came towards the end of the match, when after a shot from E. Cesnauskis, the ball narrowly missed the post. Soon after, R. Poskus had an opportunity, receiving a long pass, he dribbled past a defender but missed the target.
At the end of the game, the hosts managed to send the ball into the net, but the goal was disallowed for handball. The Lithuanian national team secured a draw and remains unbeaten, firmly in third place with 9 points.
In the other 7 matches of the group, after a tough battle, Belgium won 2-1 away against San Marino, while the match between Serbia and Montenegro and Spain ended goalless.
Standings: (Played, Won, Drawn, Lost, Goals, Points) 1. Serbia and Montenegro 5 3 2 0 10-0 11 2. Spain 5 2 3 0 8-1 9 3. Lithuania 5 2 3 0 7-2 9 4. Belgium 5 2 1 2 7-7 7 5. Bosnia and Herzegovina 4 0 3 1 3-6 3 6. San Marino 6 0 0 6 1-20 0
