Lithuania down Estonia to maintain winning run
Thursday, October 9, 2014
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Lithuania 1-0 Estonia
Saulius Mikoliunas hit the winner 14 minutes from time to make it six points from two Group E outings for Igoris Pankratjevas's side.
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• Lithuania's Saulius Mikoliunas scores only goal of game to see off Estonia
• Hosts make it two Group E victories from two
• Visitors see Ken Kallaste sent off in dying moments
• Lithuania move to four wins from five competitive outings against Baltic rivals
• Next games: Lithuania v Slovenia, Estonia v England (12 October)
Lithuania made it two wins out of two in UEFA EURO 2016 Group E after Saulius Mikoliunas scored the only goal of the game to see off Baltic rivals Estonia.
The hosts had the better of previous competitive matches between the two nations – winning three of four – but it was Estonia who threatened first in Vilnius. Ilja Antonov reacted after a cross was knocked down in the area but the No16 volleyed over from ten metres after failing to get on top of the bouncing ball.
Lithuania struck back and Deivydas Matulevičius was sent clean through, but visiting No1 Sergei Pareiko sensed the danger and rushed from goal to smother at the forward's feet. The ding-dong nature continued as Estonia's Joel Lindpere saw his powerful drive brilliantly repelled by Giedrius Arlauskis before Pareiko found an Arvydas Novikovas effort from range too powerful to handle, though Matulevičius's follow-up was well blocked.
An excellent chance came the way of Mindaugas Panka shortly after the interval, the No18 meeting a cross with his head five metres from goal but the attempt lacked the power to force a way past the Estonian keeper.
The visitors then took control of possession but failed to make it pay, with Lithuania taking a resolute line on the edge of their own box. That defensive excellence was rewarded when Mikoliunas clinched the points with 14 minutes to go. Pareiko spilled a shot from distance into the path of Matulevičius, but appeared to make up for the slip with an excellent smothering stop. However, the ball rebounded to the No9 who crossed for the substitute to nod in the winner. Estonia pushed for an equaliser but the dismissal of Ken Kallaste with four minutes to go ended their hopes.
