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The Lithuanian national team successfully passed the test in Malta, where on Wednesday afternoon they played a friendly match against the local national team. Starting the game cautiously, Algimantas Liubinskas' players slowly gained momentum and crushed their opponents to secure their fourth victory this year.
Malta 1 - 4 Lithuania 37‘ [0 - 1] Tomas Danilevičius 58‘ [0 - 2] Tomas Radzinevičius 67‘ [0 - 3] Tomas Danilevičius 86‘ [1 - 3] Gilbert Agius 90‘ [1 - 4] Vitalijus Kavaliauskas
Lithuania: Grybauskas; Paulauskas (72‘ D.Žutautas), Džiaukštas, Skerla, Stankevičius; Morinas (76‘ Pilibaitis), Barasa (59‘ Beniušis), Miceika (66‘ Preikšaitis), Kalonas (72‘ Gedgaudas), Radzinevičius, Danilevičius (82‘ Kavaliauskas)
One debutant unexpectedly took the field for the Lithuanian team from the start of the match - Panevėžys "Ekranas" goalkeeper Paulius Grybauskas, who replaced Mindaugas Malinauskas due to injury. After a long break, Nerijus Barasa returned to the team, and the recent additions Igoris Morinas and Tomas Radzinevičius also had the opportunity to start in the lineup.
From the beginning of the game, Lithuanian footballers took the initiative, although the pace of the game was not high. However, the first serious chance was created by the hosts when, in the 13th minute, a long shot from Peter Pullicino shook the crossbar of Paulius Grybauskas' goal. Despite this, the Lithuanians continued to control the situation on the field, but inaccurate passes hindered the creation of anything dangerous.
The first goal finally came in the 37th minute, when after Igoris Morinas' pass from the left flank, Tomas Danilevičius flicked the ball to N.Barasa, who hesitated a bit before returning it to his teammate, who had time to adjust and score the first goal from a few meters – 0-1.
A few minutes later, Terence Scerri managed to break away from Rolandas Džiaukštas, but in a one-on-one situation, he couldn't beat the resolute goalkeeper P.Grybauskas.
At the start of the second half, the Maltese players created several dangerous attacks but again conceded a goal in the 58th minute. After N.Barasa's pass, Maltese goalkeeper Mario Muscat saved the shots from T.Danilevičius and T.Radzinevičius, but was helpless against another shot by T.Radzinevičius with his head – 0-2.
This was the first goal scored by the former "Sūduva" striker wearing the Lithuanian national team shirt. Just a few minutes after coming on as a substitute, Ričardas Beniušis almost scored his second – he broke through towards the goal and took a shot but the ball hit the post.
The rattled opponents were finished off by the second goal from T.Danilevičius – the "Livorno" forward received a pass from T.Radzinevičius and, after steadying himself, scored with a precise shot into the far corner of the goal, making the scoreline overwhelming – 0-3.
Soon, our team could have scored again, but then the game tempo decreased. The hosts tried to at least score a consolation goal, and they succeeded. First, Jamie Pace dangerously took a penalty kick, and in the 86th minute, Gilbert Agius scored with a header after a cross from the right flank.
Inspired by success, the Maltese players again attacked, and for that, they were punished – in the 90th minute, during a quick counterattack, the free Vitalijus Kavaliauskas broke through from the right flank and scored the fourth goal, his first goal for the national team. The Lithuanian national team confidently won with a score of 4-1 and ended the year triumphantly.
