"Žalgiris" youth team achieves an excellent result in the UEFA Youth League

2026-10-29 00:44 © fkzalgiris.lt

In the first leg of the second round of the UEFA Youth League, Vilnius "Žalgiris” drew 1–1 away to Dublin’s "St Patrick’s Athletic”.

Vakaris Berenta put the Lithuanian youth champions ahead in the second half, but the hosts equalised in the 86th minute.

Compared with their previous tournament match, there was one change in Žalgiris’ starting lineup: defender Vytis Pavilonis returned from injury.

The hosts had more possession, but the well-organised Vilnius side did not allow their opponents many chances. The Irish team took their first dangerous shot in the 19th minute. Dominykas Čekavičius caught the ball struck by Billy Canny, who had attacked down the right flank.

Žalgiris had a chance in the 24th minute. Tomas Grigaliūnas, attacking down the left flank, shot from around 16 metres, but his effort was saved by the goalkeeper.

In the 37th minute, Žalgiris were forced to make a substitution: Ugnius Klimavičius replaced the injured Benas Bruzga.

Dominykas Čekavičius saved Vilnius in the 41st minute. Niall Sullivan shot towards the near corner from the left flank, but the Žalgiris goalkeeper kept the ball out. The first half ended goalless.

Žalgiris took the lead in the 56th minute. Dovydas Šumkauskas won the ball in the middle of the pitch and sent a long pass forward to Vakaris Berenta. The forward ran through one-on-one with the goalkeeper and put the ball into the net to make it 1–0.

The hosts had a good opportunity to equalise in the 61st minute. Following a corner, O’Connor shot from close range, but the ball hit Dominykas Čekavičius.

Danger arose in front of the Žalgiris goal again in the 74th minute. Joe Byrne headed the ball, but it flew just wide of the goal. A minute later, the hosts launched another dangerous attack, but finished it with a weak shot.

In the same minute, Žalgiris had an excellent opportunity to extend their lead. Two Vilnius players broke forward on the counterattack, but a defender intercepted Vakaris Berenta’s pass to the unmarked Ugnius Klimavičius. The midfielder would have been able to score from close range into an empty net.

In the 79th minute, the hosts’ player F. Dikcius headed the ball following a corner, but it flew over the crossbar.

The hosts equalised in the 86th minute. Following a short corner, Samuel Ogungbe sent the ball into the net with a second effort to make it 1–1.

Near the end of the match, goalkeeper Dominykas Čekavičius suffered an injury. Play was stopped for several minutes, and Žalgiris could no longer make any substitutions, so Karolis Chrustaliovas played in goal during the final minutes. The referee’s final whistle came almost 20 minutes after the end of normal time.

The teams will play the return leg in Vilnius on 4 November.