Greece strike early to vanquish Lithuania

Lazaros Christodoulopoulos's first-half strike proved enough to steer Greece to a 1-0 victory against Lithuania in FIFA World Cup qualifying Group G. 

With Greece on the back foot for long stretches, it was the home team who showed early sparkle before Christodoulopoulos extinguished their ambitions on 20 minutes. Lithuania's response was spirited but Fernando Santos's side held their nerve to move four points clear in second place, three behind Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

The decisive blow was landed when Christodoulopoulos met José Holebas's cross and made the net bulge with a thumping header. Visiting keeper Orestis Karnezis had to be at his best to deny Mindaugas Panka, before Fanis Gekas nodded straight at Lithuania No1 Emilijus Zubas.

Gekas was in the thick of the action again in the second half, his diving header sending Zubas sprawling to his right. As the clock ticked down in Vilnius, Greece retreated into their shells and almost paid the price when Kęstutis Ivaškevičius sent a shot fizzing past a post.

However, substitute Dimitris Salpingidis hit the woodwork moments later as Greece threatened a clinching second. They next travel to Liechtenstein on 6 September when Lithuania take on a Latvia team a place below them in fifth.