In the final match of the fifth round of the Lithuanian TOPsport A Lyga, newcomers FK TransInvest produced an impressive comeback to defeat Vilnius Žalgiris 2-1 away at the Sportima Arena.
A large crowd gathered in the packed arena on Monday evening to watch Lithuanian football as Žalgiris, under head coach Rolandas Džiaukštas, entered the match looking for their fourth consecutive league victory after winning their previous three games.
Džiaukštas made one change to the starting lineup, giving Serbian striker Nikola Petković his first start of the season, while experienced forward Liviu Antal began the match on the bench.
Meanwhile, Marius Stankevičius’ TransInvest side made two changes following their narrow victory over Banga Gargždai five days earlier. Haitian striker Jeudi Stevenson, who scored in that match, made his first start of the season, as did Lithuanian midfielder Edvinas Kloniūnas.
The first real chance of the match belonged to the visitors. In the 18th minute Ukrainian attacking player Oleksandr Musolitin found himself in a promising position, but his shot sailed over the crossbar.
Despite that early warning, it was the home side who opened the scoring. After a short passing sequence in midfield, the ball reached Giedrius Matulevičius, who delivered a clever pass to Petkovic. The Serbian striker finished clinically from a tight angle to give Žalgiris a 1-0 lead.
Žalgiris had opportunities to double their advantage, while TransInvest responded with their first shot on target that forced Carlos Olses into action in the Vilnius goal.
However, just before the break the visitors found their equaliser. After Žalgiris lost possession in midfield, Musolitin received the ball on the left flank and delivered a cross into the penalty area. Spanish forward Xavi Auzmendi rose highest and headed the ball into the net to make it 1-1, scoring his third goal of the season.
At the start of the second half, Žalgiris defenders made several costly mistakes in their own half, allowing TransInvest to create dangerous opportunities. Fortunately for the home side, the visitors failed to convert those chances into goals, with Auzmendi again at the centre of the action.
As the match progressed, the visitors gradually took control of the game, much to the surprise of the home supporters. TransInvest created chance after chance, while Žalgiris struggled to even reach the visitors’ penalty area.
That growing pressure eventually paid off in the 73rd minute. Substitute Domantas Šluta, who had just entered the field, capitalised on another turnover in midfield. After a quick counterattack, the ball reached him outside the penalty area and he fired a powerful low shot into the bottom left corner past Olses to give TransInvest a 2-1 lead.
Žalgiris were forced to push forward in search of an equaliser. Coach Džiaukštas responded with attacking substitutions, bringing on top scorer Liviu Antal and winger Nemanja Mihajlovic in an attempt to turn the match around.
Although the hosts increased their pressure, the TransInvest defence remained organised and disciplined, limiting Žalgiris mostly to speculative long-range efforts.
As time ran down, TransInvest calmly controlled the game, keeping possession in the Žalgiris half and seeing out the match to secure a well-deserved victory and three valuable points away from home.
FK Žalgiris Vilnius vs FK TransInvest – 1-2 (1-1)
Goals: Petkovic 25′ | Auzmendi 45+1′, Šluta 73′
Round 5
FC Hegelmann
FK Riteriai
Džiugas Telšiai
Kauno Žalgiris
Transinvest| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kauno Žalgiris |
5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 12 | 15 |
| 2 | Džiugas Telšiai |
5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 10 |
| 3 | Transinvest |
5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 10 |
| 4 | FK Žalgiris |
5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 9 |
| 5 | FK Banga |
5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| 6 | FK Sūduva |
5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 7 | FK Panevėžys |
5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 | -6 | 5 |
| 8 | FC Hegelmann |
5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 4 |
| 9 | FA Šiauliai |
5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 10 | -7 | 3 |
| 10 | FK Riteriai |
5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 14 | -12 | 0 |
