2024-07-18 20:38:10
The people of Vilnius, who won the first round a week ago, did not get upset this time and in Vilnius – “Žalgiris” beat their opponents 1:0 (1:0) and advanced to the second qualifying round, beating their opponents with a total score of 3:1 in two matches.
We remind you that in order to get to the group stage of the UEFA European Conference League, Zalgiris will have to overcome as many as four qualifying stages. In the second qualifying round, the club from the capital will play against the Paphos team from Cyprus. The first match will be played in Vilnius on July 25.
The first battle between the teams, which took place a week ago in Finland, ended with the victory of V. Čeburin’s students 2:1. This meant that in the return match, the Lithuanian vice-champions had a one-goal lead against their opponents from Vasa.
The return match in Vilnius started with a cautious game of both teams – the teams were more involved in tactical and scouting football, rather than trying to open the scoring account as soon as possible.
At the beginning of the match, Adama Fofana and Paulius Golubickas played a bit more aggressively in the attack for the Vilnius team, but it is true that the Vilnius team did not manage to create serious threats at the opponent’s goal.
It is true that the Finns were not much more active – in the VPS team the game of striker Gleofilos Vlijter stood out the most, he threatened the goal of the Vilnius team several times, and goalkeeper Arpadus Tordais had to save “Žalgiris” from them once.
It already seemed that the first half of the match would end without goals, but at the very end of the first half, the hands of the fans who had practically completely filled the stands of the LFF stadium rose – “Žalgiris” took the lead.
45+4 min. A. Fofana sent the ball into the goal after an excellent pass by Joris Moutachy with a well-aimed header.
In the 58th minute of the match, V. Čeburin’s students had an amazing opportunity to double the advantage – a powerful shot by Joel Bopesai was saved by the goalkeeper, and then Ovidijus Virbickas had an amazing opportunity, his bounced ball flew into the goal, but the opponent’s defense wall managed to block this shot.
80th min. the fans at the LFF stadium grabbed their heads – another opportunity to score a second goal was blown by the wind – this time the ball hit by Liviu Antalis “kissed” the crossbar.
At the end of the match, “Žalgiris” was closer to the second goal than the opponents from Finland. However, when the referee’s final whistle blew, the result remained unchanged, which meant that V. Cheburin’s army entered the next stage.
We would like to remind you that in the first match between them in Finland, Jurijs Kendyšas, who scored in the added time of the second half, snatched the victory for “Žalgiris”.
Vilnius “Žalgiris” football players are currently the undisputed leaders of the Lithuanian football championship, while the Vasa club is sixth in Finland.
2024-07-18 20:38:10