Match № 21

The match № 21 (second group stage), fourth tournament day

LITHUANIA – BULGARIA 0:2 (0:0)

January 7th, 2015, St. Petersburg, Peterburgsky SCC, 300 spectators

Referees: Maksim Chernetsov, Andrey Kuzhelev, Ilya Dorogostayskiy

Lithuania: Adamonis,Valvonis, Bracevicius, Sveiskauskas (c), Lasickas, Jurgelevicius (Janonis, 72), Matulevicius, Barauskas, Virksas, Blazevicius (Donela, 82), Megelaitis

Head coach: Darius Butkus

Bulgaria: Mihaylov, Gushlev (Dimitrov, 90), Burov (Ivanov, 46), Kerchev, Maksimov, Minkov, Georgiev (c) (Penchev, 90), Alichkov, Tsvyatkov (Kirilov, 59), Petrov (Kupenov, 59), Iliev (Ignatov,46)

Head coach: Aleksandar Georgiev

Goals: Ignatov (80), Georgiev (87)

Yellow cards: Valvonis (7), Tsvyatkov (38), Magelaitis (75)

Best players: Linas Magelaitis, Ventislav Kerchev

After match comments

Head coach of team Lithuania Darius Butkus:

– I congratulate our opponents with the victory. Bulgarian players have made a good impression even in the match with Kazakhstan, that we have seen. It is a very good team with good technique. But we also played well today. We played from the defense but we could score only once. There was misfortune in the end...

– I want to ask specifically about the end of the match. You didn't make substitutions till 72nd minute of the match, were you totally satisfied with the match going?

– I was satisfied with it.

– What did your team lack of at the end, when you let in 2 goals?

– We were lack of luck first of all. If you don't score – the opponent will score. Our defenders were mistaken and we let in first goal. Thеn we went for broke, began to risk, to attack with massive forces – and let in second goal. It is offensive to lose in such a way, but the main thing is we have charaсter. That means victories will come to us.

Head coach of team Bulgaria Aleksandar Georgiev:

– I congratulate everyone with Christmas – it is a Holy day! I also congratulate Lithuanian team with a good game. Now, about the match. We failed to show our potential in first half. We were excited a bit, wanted to score fast goal but failed. Second half was much better for us: we increased our speed and scoring amoments began to appear. We scored twice, but could score more.

– Nevertheless, we had to wait for the goal for 80 minutes...

– It is common knowledge that the match goes till the final whistle. We were looking for our victory on the pitch, looking intentionally with the whole team. Substitutions were successful, they gave some confidence and strengths to the team.