Lithuanian international striker Gytis Paulauskas made a strong official debut for MFK Zemplín Michalovce in Slovakia’s top league, helping his team start the season with a 1-1 draw against Dunajská Streda.
The 25-year-old forward, who transferred this season from Ukrainian Premier League club Kolos Kovalivka, was included in the starting lineup for Michalovce’s opener.
The home side took the lead in the first half when Paulauskas played a key role. He expertly controlled a corner delivery with his chest and set up former Arsenal academy graduate Ben Cottrell, who finished smartly into the left corner.
Dunajská Streda responded in the second half, and in the 67th minute, Georgian fullback Tsotne Kapanadze delivered a perfect cross that Montenegro forward Viktor Djukanović headed in to equalize.
The remainder of the game saw no further goals, as Michalovce defied preseason predictions that saw them as relegation candidates by earning a valuable point against one of the league’s top sides.
Michalovce will look to build on this result when they host Komárno next Saturday.
