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Vilnius' "Žalgiris" continues its successful performance in the Lithuanian football "A League" championship. On Sunday, Arminas Narbekovas' players, after a tumultuous battle, defeated one of the outsiders, Visaginas' "Inter", with a score of 3-2 (1-0).
Vilnius' "Žalgiris" stadium
Referee - Viktoras Chileckis
Vilnius 3 - 2 Visaginas
33' [1 - 0] Igoris Morinas
47' [2 - 0] Igoris Morinas (Penalty)
49' [2 - 1] Denis Gordej
54' [2 - 2] Povilas Krasnovskis
87' [3 - 2] Nikolaj Misiuk
The "Žalgiris" players, supported by a not very large group of spectators and the always active and passionate fans of the "Pietų IV" stand, took the initiative from the beginning of the match and did not allow "Inter" to establish an equal game. However, creating opportunities near the opponents' goal was also challenging for the Vilnius team - their defense caused problems for the goalkeepers and attackers, who lacked precision in crucial moments.
The first more realistic opportunity came in the 13th minute for Valerijus Mižigurskis, but his long-range shot flew over the goal. A few moments later, Visaginas' goalkeeper Audrius Dilys failed to catch the ball after a corner, but Igoris Steško was unable to send the ball into the goal from an uncomfortable position.
"Žalgiris" gradually found its rhythm and started to constantly threaten the "Inter" goal. In the 23rd minute, Eimantas Poderis tried his luck from 18 meters, but the ball flew just past the goal.
The best opportunity to take the lead immediately after that episode was for Iulianas Bursucas - Igoris Morinas deceived the defender on the left and crossed the ball to the penalty area, where Moldova tried to send it into the goal without stopping. However, his attempt was slightly inaccurate - the ball bounced out of play.
In the 27th minute, Žalgiris' accurate passes led to Virmantas Lemežis one-on-one with A. Dilys, but the attacker opened up too much distance to send the ball and "Inter" defended once again.
Ernestas Šetkus, Žalgiris' goalkeeper, had to get involved for the first time in the 31st minute, easily catching Artūras Jeršovas' very distant and non-threatening shot.
Finally, in the 34th minute, "Žalgiris" succeeded - goalkeeper parried I. Bursucas' shot from the right edge of the penalty area, but a few minutes later he helplessly watched as Edvinas Lukoševičius invaded the penalty area and passed the ball to I. Morinas, who simply directed it into the empty goal.
Scoring the goal calmed the hosts, and in the first half, the only E. Lukoševičius tried his luck with a shot from afar, straight into the goalkeeper's hands.
At the beginning of the second half, "Žalgiris" solidified its lead - the ball in the penalty area hit the hand of one of the defenders after a cross, and referee Viktoras Chileckis immediately awarded a penalty kick. I. Morinas successfully converted the standard situation. By the way, the experienced player achieved a club record of goals - this was his 53rd accurate shot in his career.
Although it seemed that the victory was already in the Vilnius team's pocket, everything turned upside down in a matter of minutes. First, in the 50th minute, after a melee in the penalty area, Denis Gordejus reduced the score, and shortly after, following a pass from the right, Povilas Krasnovskis scored an equalizing goal with a great header.
Everything started anew, and "Žalgiris" again put "Inter" on the back foot, almost not allowing the opponents to enter their half of the field. In the 60th minute, V. Mižigurskis, who played actively but not always productively, threatened Visaginas' team goal with a curling shot from 16 meters.
In the 65th minute, V. Lemežis lacked accuracy when trying to send the ball into the goal from 20 meters. Meanwhile, in the 70th minute, fans had to hold their breath as after another shot from V. Mižigurskis, the ball hit the goalpost.
Shortly after, both of these players once again made A. Dilys nervous with long-range attempts, until finally in the 88th minute, "Žalgiris" deservedly secured their victory - after I. Morinas' pass from the left attacking side, I. Bursucas stopped the ball near the far post, deceived the defender, and with a strong shot from a few meters, helped Nikolajus Misiukas snatch a dramatic win.
During the remaining time, the hosts calmly controlled the ball, and the referee only had to announce another victory for "Žalgiris" in the championship, allowing them to maintain their position at the top of the tournament table.
