In today’s FIFA World Cup qualifying match, the Lithuanian national team secured a 2-2 draw against Finland, thanks to a spectacular goal by FC Torino’s Gvidas Gineitis. This result ended their eight-game losing streak.
Comparing this match to their previous one against Poland, Lithuanian national team manager Edgaras Jankauskas made a few changes to the lineup. The most significant change was placing Paulius Golubickas on the bench and starting Titas Milašius instead. Additionally, Giedrius Matulevičius replaced Domantas Antanavičius in midfield. Gytis Paulauskas was absent from the lineup due to illness.
Finland began the match strong, taking the lead in the 4th minute when Kaan Kairinen slotted the ball into an unguarded net after a shot rebounded off a defender.
Things worsened for Lithuania in the 16th minute when Edvinas Girdvainis fouled a Finnish player inside the penalty area, leading the Belgian referee to award a penalty kick. Finland’s Joel Pohjanpalo successfully converted the penalty.
For most of the first half, Lithuania struggled to support their star striker, Armandas Kučys. However, in the 39th minute, he seized an opportunity. After receiving a well-placed pass from Artur Dolžnikov, Kučys fired the ball into the left corner of the net, leaving the goalkeeper stranded. After a lengthy VAR review, the goal was confirmed.
Lithuania improved in the second half but still appeared shaky in defense. Unfortunately, they received more bad news when goalscorer Armandas Kučys had to leave the field due to injury. However, the substitute Manfredas Ružģis entered the game, marking his first appearance for the national team since 2018. Ružģis has been excelling in the Albanian second division, scoring 22 goals.
In the 69th minute, Gvidas Gineitis scored a stunning goal from 30 meters out, thrilling the crowd at the Darius and Girėnas Stadium. It was an incredible strike!
After Gineitis’s goal, Lithuania began to play with more confidence, putting pressure on the Finnish defenders and creating scoring opportunities. However, as the match progressed, both teams settled for a draw when the Belgian referee blew the final whistle.
With this draw, Lithuania ended its eight-game losing streak. After the first two matches of this international break, they earned one point. Their next World Cup qualifying match is scheduled against Malta, away from home, on June 7th.
Lithuania vs Finland – 2:2 (1:2)
Goals: Kučys 39′, Gineitis 69′ | Kairinen 4′, Pohjanpalo 17′
Yellow Card: Girdvainis 16′, Gineitis 69′, Milašius 73′
LIT: Gertmonas – Kažukolovas – Utkus (Reimeikis 76′), Girdvainis – Širvys, Matulevičius (Černych 65′), Gineitis, Milašius – Dolžnikov (Golubickas 46′), Kučys (Ružģis 58′), Lasickas
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