TransINVEST let two-goal lead slip against Banga

Ričardas Šveikauskas. Image credit to FK TransINVEST/Facebook

FK TransINVEST failed to hold on to a two-goal advantage in the Lithuanian Toplyga, conceding a dramatic late equaliser in a 2-2 draw away against FK Banga Gargždai.

The visitors made the perfect start and opened the scoring already in the third minute. Ukrainian midfielder Yegor Glushach received a pass from Stefan Milošević before calmly placing his shot into the far corner to give TransINVEST an early lead.

TransINVEST doubled their advantage in the 23rd minute through Hideyasu Tanaka. Defender Iker Bilbao delivered a long pass over the top which found the Japanese forward breaking between the defenders, and Tanaka made no mistake in the one-on-one situation.

Banga managed to pull one back before halftime, though, as Ignas Venckus rose highest following a set-piece and headed home his third goal of the season to reduce the deficit to 2-1.

The home side looked far more dangerous after the break and came close to equalising when Aaron Appiah struck the crossbar from close range. At the other end, TransINVEST nearly restored their two-goal cushion, but Volodymyr Krynskyi produced an important save to deny Stefan Milošević’s header.

Drama arrived deep into stoppage time. In the final seconds of the match, Aaron Olugbogi’s cross struck the arm of TransINVEST defender Koffi inside the penalty area, leading the referee to point to the spot.

Swiss forward Aaron Appiah stepped up and confidently converted the penalty into the corner, rescuing a point for Banga in dramatic fashion.

Following the draw, both teams maintained their positions in the league table. TransINVEST remain third with 22 points, while Banga Gargždai sit fourth with 19 points.

FK Banga Gargždai vs FK TransINVEST – 2-2 (1-2)
Goals: Venckus 43′, Appiah 90+6′ (Penalty kick) | Glushach 3′, Tanaka 23′

#TeamP WDL GFGAGDPts
1
Kauno Žalgiris
13 8 4 1 33 10 23 28
2
Džiugas Telšiai
13 7 3 3 18 13 5 24
3
Transinvest
13 6 4 3 24 14 10 22
4
FK Banga
13 5 4 4 20 11 9 19
5
FK Žalgiris
13 5 4 4 19 14 5 19
6
FK Sūduva
13 4 6 3 16 10 6 18
7
FK Panevėžys
13 4 3 6 13 21 -8 15
8
FC Hegelmann
13 2 7 4 11 19 -8 13
9
FA Šiauliai
13 2 6 5 11 22 -11 12
10
FK Riteriai
13 0 3 10 3 34 -31 3