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The Vilnius "Žalgiris" club played the second round of the Intertoto Cup in Latvia on Saturday, and despite losing to Daugavpils' "Dinaburg" club, they advanced to the next stage due to a more favorable home victory, where they will meet the Greek team "Egaleo."
Daugavpils "Dinaburg" 2 - 1 Vilnius
(First leg 0-2, aggregate score 2-3)
17' [1 - 0] Aleksejs Boruns
18' [2 - 0] Mihails Ziziljevs
45+2' [2 - 1] Karolis Jasaitis (pen.)
90+2' Vidas Kaušpadas missed a penalty
"Žalgiris" lineup: Rapalis; Paknys, Gražiūnas, Mikuckis, Jokšas; Sorokinas, Šilo, Lemežis, Jasaitis; Jašurek, Osipovič (64' Kaušpadas)
Having won the first match 2-0, the Vilnius team had to play the second leg without one of their injured leaders, I. Morinas. Although the Vilnius team was without some key players, their coach S. Širmelis had worked in Latvia and the most loyal "Žalgiris" fans had also traveled to support the team.
The hosts started the game more actively and scored the first goal in the 17th minute with a great penalty shot by A. Boruns. Shortly after, the Žalgiris team was shocked again when M. Ziziljevs doubled the lead with a header, leveling the score of both meetings.
Latvians continued to attack and tried to increase their lead, but "Žalgiris" responded with a dangerous shot by K. Jasaitis. At the end of the first half, a penalty was awarded to A. Osipovičius, and Jasaitis successfully converted it, benefiting the Vilnius team.
To move on, "Dinaburg" needed to score two more goals, but despite their efforts, the Žalgiris successfully defended their goal and counterattacked. The visitors' goalkeeper denied a long-range shot by Jasaitis outside the goal line.
Osipovičius had a dangerous shot, A. Kriklivs' attempt also missed the goal, and a minute later, P. Kolcov's shot was saved by the crossbar. The home team's pressure ended, and as the game calmed down, the Vilnius team maintained their aggregate lead.
In the second minute of added time, a penalty kick was awarded to "Dinaburg," but V. Kaušpadas' shot was saved by the goalkeeper V. Fjodorovs. Despite missing the chance to equalize, "Žalgiris" advanced based on the aggregate score of both matches, reaching the third round of the Intertoto Cup, repeating last year's record achievement of "Vėtra."
