Žalgiris Vilnius secure 2:0 home victory over Hamrun Spartans in the first leg of Champions league qualifiers

The Lithuanian champions successfully started their season in Europe. After a goalless first half filled with missed opportunities on both sides, Žalgiris found their breakthrough in the 59th minute through veteran Liviu Antal, before super-sub Kassim Hadji sealed the result with a brilliant solo goal just seconds after coming on in the 85th minute.

It was a rainy and, by all weather standards, miserable Wednesday evening in Vilnius, far from ideal conditions for either spectators or players. Still, the downpour was no reason to postpone the first leg of the opening Champions league round in Lithuania’s capital, where local champions FK Žalgiris Vilnius faced off against the Maltese side Hamrun Spartans.

The first ten minutes of the match were calm, with both teams exchanging a few crosses into the box, though neither side created any real danger or registered a shot. Hamrun Spartans earned two corners during this period, but they didn’t pose a significant threat.

The first shot of the game came in the 14th minute, courtesy of Henrique Devens. The Brazilian fired from outside the box, but his effort went well wide of the target.

However, Devens was involved in the first big chance of the match just four minutes later. In the 18th minute, he latched onto a cross from the right flank, but his shot was slightly misdirected, veering too far to the left.

In the 20th minute, FK Žalgiris Vilnius lost possession of the ball in their own box, presenting a prime opportunity for Hamrun Spartans. Unfortunately for the Maltese side, the resulting shot sailed high over the bar.

Three minutes later, Liviu Antal had his turn to threaten the opposition. After a cross from Joris Moutachy, Antal’s shot lacked power and failed to trouble the goalkeeper.

FK Žalgiris Vilnius responded with a strong push into the Spartans’ box, but their chances came to nothing. The visitors continued to look dangerous, but they couldn’t convert their pressure into a meaningful shot on goal.

In the 35th minute, Hamrun Spartans had another golden opportunity. However, the chance ended much like their previous attempt, with the shot going off target.

The best opportunity of the half for Hamrun came in the 38th minute, when they had a clear chance inside the box. However, the shot went directly to the hands of goalkeeper Carlos Olses.

The first half ended in a goalless draw. Despite both sides having their fair share of opportunities, the score remained level. There were only three shots on target during the first 45 minutes: one for Žalgiris Vilnius and two for Hamrun Spartans, leaving both teams to regroup and reassess their strategies ahead of the second half.

The second half began with renewed intensity from both sides, and in the 54th minute, it looked like the hosts had finally broken the deadlock. Liviu Antal played a precise through ball to Henrique Devens, who found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper and calmly slotted the ball into the net. 

However, the celebration was short-lived: the linesman’s flag went up, and the goal was disallowed for offside, as Antal had been in an illegal position when receiving the ball.

Just five minutes later, in the 59th minute, FK Žalgiris Vilnius struck with precision to open the scoring. A well-delivered free-kick from Bruno Tavares found Yury Kendysh in the box, who laid it off for veteran forward Liviu Antal. The 36-year-old, back in Lithuania after a stint in Romania, made no mistake and fired home to give the Lithuanian champions a 1:0 lead.

It was a deserved breakthrough after both teams had struggled to convert their earlier chances.

In the 81st minute, Hamrun Spartans came agonisingly close to finding the equaliser. A well-worked attack saw the Maltese side break into the box, creating one of their clearest chances of the match. The shot looked destined for the back of the net, but a crucial deflection in the final moments denied them.

Had it not been for that last-ditch intervention, the Spartans may well have levelled the score, setting up a tense finale. Instead, the Lithuanian defense held firm, preserving their narrow lead as the clock ticked down.

Barely a minute after entering the pitch, Hadji made an immediate impact. With one of his first touches, he surged past the Hamrun Spartans defenders in a dazzling solo run and calmly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper to score Žalgiris’ second goal of the match.

Hadji’s lightning-fast contribution put the result beyond doubt, sealing a 2:0 victory for the Lithuanian champions and capping off a composed and clinical second-half performance.

This win marks the beginning of Žalgiris Vilnius’ 30th participation in European competition — and they’ve started it on the right foot. With a two-goal cushion, they’ll now look to carry this momentum into the second leg on July 15th, aiming to secure their place in the next round.

FK Žalgiris vs Hamrun Spartans – 2:0 (0:0)
Goals: L.Antal 59′ | K.Hadji 85’
ŽAL: C.Olses, J.Moutachy, V.Radenovic, L.Dumancic, B.Tavares, O.Verbickas (D.Salcinovic 90’), E.Ofori, Y.Kendysh, G.Matulevičius, H.Devens (K.Hadji 85’), L.Antal
HAM: H.Bonello, R.Compri, O.Bjelicic, Emerson, N.Micallef (M.Hadzi 63’), J.Mbong, J.Cadjenovic (M.El Fanis), D.Šimkus (Eder 75’), R.Camenzuli, M.Garcia (S.Thioune 90’), N.Koffi (J.Djile 90’)