Kauno Žalgiris Dramatically Advance to Champions League Second Round

Kauno Žalgiris Continue Champions League Journey

Kauno Žalgiris snatched a dramatic 3-2 victory over Drita Gjilan in the second leg on Tuesday evening, advancing with a 4-3 aggregate score. The first leg in Lithuania had ended in a 1-1 draw.

Match Highlights

Lithuanian international midfielder Vykintas Slivka, who joined Žalgiris earlier this month, emerged as a key figure. He put the hosts ahead in the 9th minute. Igbal Jashari equalized in the 20th minute, and Arb Manaj gave Drita a 2-1 lead in the 53rd minute. Kauno intensified pressure and Slivka scored his second goal in the 82nd minute to make it 2-2. In stoppage time, the visitors earned a penalty, which Belgian-Moroccan Amin Benchaib converted to seal a 3-2 win.

Slivka's Background

Slivka has extensive experience abroad, having played in Slovenia, the Netherlands, Italy, Scotland, Greece, and Japan. In 2017, he was signed by Hibernian from Juventus for €100,000.

Next Opponents

In the second round, Kauno Žalgiris will face the winner of the tie between the champions of the Faroe Islands and Luxembourg. Drita drops to the UEFA Conference League qualifiers, where they will meet Malta's Floriana.

Other Results

Elsewhere, Irish champions Shamrock Rovers overturned a 2-0 first-leg deficit by thrashing Floriana 5-1 at home (5-3 aggregate) and will next face Ararat Armenia, who eliminated Latvian champions Riga.