Kauno Žalgiris kicked off the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League with a hard-fought 1–1 (0–0) draw against Reykjavik’s Valur at the Darius and Girėnas Stadium.
From the opening whistle, the hosts seized control of the match. Dominating possession and attacking play, Žalgiris registered eight shots on goal in the first half, while the Icelandic side managed just one attempt. However, despite their pressure, the Lithuanian team couldn’t break the deadlock before the interval.
The breakthrough finally came just before the hour mark. Romualdas Jansonas rose highest in the box and found the net with a superb header to put Žalgiris 1–0 ahead, sending the home crowd into celebration.
Late in the match, Žalgiris had a golden opportunity to seal the win. Ernestas Burdzilauskas found himself one-on-one with the Valur goalkeeper but failed to convert, shooting narrowly off target.
That missed chance proved costly. In the 88th minute, Valur responded with a well-placed header from Tryggvi Haraldsson, leveling the score at 1–1 and silencing the home support.
The decisive second leg will be played on Thursday, July 31st, in Reykjavik, where both sides will battle it out for a spot in the next round of the UEFA Conference League.
FK Kauno Žalgiris vs Valur – 1:1 (0:0)
Goals: Jansonas 58’ | Haraldsson 88’
KAU: Švedkauskas, Bah-Traore, Tolordava, Hernandez, Edokpolor, Armanavičius, Sirgedas, Chogadze (Černych 61’), Benchaib, Ourega, Jansonas (Burdzilauskas 77’)
VAL: Schram, Omarsson, Eyjolfsson,Antonsson, Larusson (J.Palsson 88’), Jonsson (Kjartansson 81’), Magnusson, Sigurdsson (Johannsson 81’), Haraldsson, Skoglund (Heimisson 73’), Pedersen (A.Palsson 73’)
