In the early hours of Saturday, Lithuanian national team player Vykintas Slivka played the full match for Sagan Tosu and unfortunately missed a crucial penalty kick late in the game, resulting in a 0-1 defeat in the Japanese J2 League.
Last week, in the season opener, the 29-year-old started and played the entire match, but the team suffered a 0-1 loss at home against Vegalta Sendai.
Today, Sagan Tosu hosted Iwata, a team that, like Slivka’s side was relegated from the J1 League last season.
The only goal of the match came in the 82nd minute. Sagan Tosu’s goalkeeper mistimed his run, leaving him stranded. Iwata’s Ken Masui capitalized on the situation. He got to the loose ball first and expertly lobbed it over the goalkeeper and into the net from a tight angle.
In the 89th minute, Slivka had a golden opportunity to equalize with a penalty kick. However, his shot to the bottom right corner was anticipated by the goalkeeper, who made a crucial save, keeping Sagan Tosu from leveling the score.
With two narrow defeats and no goals scored in their first two league matches, last season’s J1 League participants have had a difficult start to the new season. Slivka and Sagan Tosu will look to bounce back next Saturday when they host Imabari.