Title fight blow: 'Kaunas Žalgiris' fell at the last minute in Panevėžys

2025-08-24 20:55 © zalgiris.lt

In the "TOPsport" supported Lithuanian football A league, the central match of the 26th round took place between the players of "Panevėžys" and "Kauno Žalgiris." A last-minute goal by Ernestas Veliulis gifted the Panevėžys team a victory with a score of 1:0 (0:0).

In the 9th minute, the guests’ player Fabien Ourega created a chance for a shot and fired it into the far corner of the goal, but a great leap from Vytautas Černiauskas saved the team from trouble.

During the remaining part of the first half, both teams struggled to create dangerous attacks near the opponents' goal. In the Žalgiris ranks, Romualdas Jansonas and Amine Benchaiba tried their luck, but their shots were handled by V. Černiauskas. On the other side, Issacas Asante sent the ball over the goal from a distance.

Right after the break, Eivinas Černiauskas’s team was much more active – after attempts from F. Ourega and Romualdas Jansonas, the Panevėžys goalkeeper V. Černiauskas had to save the team once again.

Playing patiently in defense, the Panevėžys team launched a counterattack in the 60th minute – Elivelto's pass found Ariagneris Smith, who shot from a sharp angle at Tomas Švedkauskas. Very soon, the Žalgiris midfielder A. Benchaibas rattled the post.

As the match was coming to an end, Kwadwo Asamoah, who came on as a substitute, found himself at the forefront of "Panevėžys” attacks twice, but the goalkeeper T. Švedkauskas played flawlessly.

Just when it seemed that the teams would share a point, in the last minute, E. Veliulis brilliantly deceived the opponents and with an accurate shot into the far corner of the goal, he overpowered the Žalgiris keeper.

"Panevėžys” jumped to 6th place with 37 points, while "Kauno Žalgiris” remains in first place with 53 points.