by Kristupas Kamarauskas
On Knowledge Day, the first semi-final of the LFF Cup unfolded in northwestern Lithuania, where FK Minija hosted Alytus’s DFK Dainava in Kretinga – a high-stakes showdown between two Pirma lyga sides chasing domestic glory. Minija twice came from behind to pull off a 3-2 win and book their ticket to the final. They now await the winner of the second semi-final between FA Šiauliai and Kauno Žalgiris, scheduled for this Thursday, September 3rd.
Both clubs took demanding paths to reach the final four, proving once
again why cup football is so unpredictable. The single-elimination
format gives underdogs a real stage to cause upsets. Minija started
their run with a 12-0 thrashing of Sunday league side FK Geležinis
Vilkas, followed by a tense penalty shootout win over current Toplyga
leaders FK Sūduva (5-4 after a 2-2 draw). They then needed extra time
to put away fourth-tier side FK Pempininkai 4-1, before pulling off
another surprise by knocking out FK Panevėžys 2-1 in the
quarter-finals.
Dainava’s path to the semi-finals was also eventful. After beating II
lyga side Nevėžis on penalties following a goalless draw, they cruised
past another II lyga team, FK Viltis, 7-1 before securing a clean 2-0
win over Klaipėdos FM. Their quarter-final clash with Toplyga’s FK
TransINVEST went down to the wire after a 1-1 draw, where Dainava’s
goalkeeper Airidas Mickevičius stole the show by saving four penalties
in the shootout to send his team through.
Heading into this match, the two sides had met once before this season
in the league, with Minija winning 3-1 at home.
Dainava had to play without key right winger Christopher Ellah – a
former Minija player who has scored six Pirma lyga goals this season
and netted once in the cup against Nevėžis. On the other side,
ex-Dainava striker Kazeem Aderounmu led the line for Minija, bringing
strong form with seven league goals and two cup assists under his
belt.
Line-ups
FK Minija
Starting XI: Vykintas Gaudiešius (GK); Ernestas Mockus, Erik Kirjanov,
Mohamed Sidibe, Julius Kasparavičius (C), Deividas Pipiras, Patrick
Nwegbo, Nikita Komissarov, Linas Zingertas, Bekaye Diawara, Kazeem
Aderounmu.
Substitutes: Aleksas Pipiras (GK), Makan Diawara, Lee Minwoo, Adrijus
Putvinas, Gustas Gumbaravičius, Armandas Šveistrys, Matas Keblys,
Mamadou Traore, Natas Genutis, Sergej Amirzian.
Head Coach: Darius Gvildys
DFK Dainava
Starting XI: Airidas Mickevičius (GK) (C); Kristupas Mantinis,
Oleksandr Horodenko, Evans Appiah, Obi Jeremiah Chinonso, Illia Kotov,
Kasparas Sacevičius, Abou Sow, Gustas Zabita, Stanislav Morarenko,
Pijus Čepononis.
Substitutes: Bohdan Mykytenko (GK), Simas Šiaudvytis, Baffour Nana
Asare, Matas Maknevičius, Cheikh Faye, Titas Žukauskas, Lukas
Šiaudvytis, Pijus Sabonis, Dovydas Jansonas, Vladyslav Shapoval, Bruno
Pedro.
Head Coach: Mikolaj Raczynski
Key Moments
6′ Played in front of a near-capacity crowd, including around 70 traveling ultras from Alytus. DFK Dainava ultras “Dzūkų Tankai” set the tone early, unfurling a tifo reading “Ambicija kraujyje – taurė taikinyje” (“Ambition in our blood, the cup in our sights”)
11′ GOAL! (0-1) Dainava struck first on their opening shot on target.
Intercepting a long through-ball from Stanislav Morarenko, young
Minija defender Erik Kirjanov hesitated on the ball and was
dispossessed on the right flank by Gustas Zabita. The right-back
pounced on the error and drilled a right-footed strike into the
bottom-left corner, leaving Vykintas Gaudiešius with no chance.
17′ Dainava’s young Ghanaian forward Evans Appiah showcased raw pace,
stripping Malian midfielder Mohamed Sidibe past the halfway line
before surging toward the box, though his low finish dragged just
wide.
21′ A bizarre spell inside the Dainava box nearly gifted Minija an
equalizer. After spilling a routine catch that was shot wide, Dainava
keeper Airidas Mickevičius inexplicably handled a backpass from his
defender. The resulting indirect free kick – touched off by Estonian
midfielder Nikita Komissarov – was squandered when Minija captain Julius
Kasparavičius lifted his shot off target.
HT: Clear chances were hard to come by, but Minija closed the half on
the front foot, building pressure through consecutive corners.
51′ GOAL! (1-1) Minija wasted no time after the break, scoring on the
opening shot of the second half. Ernestas Mockus initiated the move
with a long throw-in into the box, where Kazeem Aderounmu held off his
defender with his back to goal before rolling the ball off to Patrick
Nwegbo, who slotted home the equalizer.
69′ GOAL! (1-2) Dainava regained the lead following a free kick
delivered into the mixer by Ukrainian midfielder Stanislav Morarenko.
Amid a chaotic scramble inside the six-yard box, young Senegalese
midfielder Abou Sow managed to force the ball over the line.
70′ GOAL! (2-2) Minija produced an instant response right from
kickoff. Mamadou Traore picked out Linas Zingertas with a
line-breaking pass, taking Cheikh Faye out of the play. Zingertas
controlled smoothly and unleashed a quick strike through a crowded
penalty area, finding the bottom corner.
77′ Minija nearly took the lead when substitute Armandas Šveistrys
swung in a pinpoint cross. Despite not being the tallest forward on
the pitch, South Korean veteran Lee Min-woo rose well to power a
header towards goal. Although directed almost straight at Mickevičius,
the sheer venom on the strike made it far from an easy handle, forcing
a nervous save from the Dainava keeper – just two minutes after both
substitutes entered the action.
79′ GOAL! (3-2) Patrick Nwegbo completed the turnaround with his
second goal of the match and seventh of the cup campaign. Nikita
Komissarov floated a long-range lobbed pass into the penalty area,
where Dainava’s Angolan defender misjudged his header. Nwegbo brought
the ball under control and beat Mickevičius to push Minija ahead for
the first time.
FT: Referee Robertas Šmitas had a heated ending to manage as tempers
flared late. Four yellow cards were issued after the 85th minute, part
of an eight-card total that included bookings for both head coaches.
Dainava threw numbers forward in stoppage time, but Minija held firm
with disciplined, composure-driven defending to secure the win.
Patrick Ifediba Nwegbo was deservedly named Player of the Match after
scoring twice.
The LFF Cup final is scheduled to take place at the Darius and Girėnas
Stadium on September 11th.
