Lithuania fails to hold onto lead, draws 1:1 with Azerbaijan in Nations League
Lithuania's national football team took the lead from a penalty in Kaunas but conceded an equalizer within five minutes, ending in a 1:1 draw with Azerbaijan. The result leaves Lithuania without back-to-back wins in UEFA Nations League Group 2 of League D.
In a UEFA Nations League League D group match played in Kaunas, Lithuania's national football team missed the chance to secure consecutive wins, settling for a 1:1 draw against Azerbaijan.
Early in the match, Azerbaijani midfielder Emil Safarov handled the ball in his own penalty area against Lithuania's Gvidas Gineitis, who plays for Torino. The resulting penalty was converted by Armandas Kučys of Slovenian club Celje, putting the hosts ahead.
The lead lasted only briefly. Just five minutes later, Azerbaijan equalized through Rakow Częstochowa forward Mahir Emreli, whose shot went between the legs of Lithuanian goalkeeper Džiugas Bartkus, who plays for Bahrain's Al Riffa.
During the rest of the first half, both Lithuania's Justinas Lasickas and Azerbaijan's Abdulla Hajıbulayev squandered good scoring chances, leaving the score unchanged heading into the break.
The second half saw a drop in intensity from both sides, with Lithuania failing to register a single shot on target until the 83rd minute. The score held until the final whistle, ending the match 1:1.
In their previous fixture, Lithuania had defeated Liechtenstein 2:0, so this draw means the team continues its campaign in League D Group 2 without extending its winning streak. In the next round, Azerbaijan will face Liechtenstein, while Lithuania's following match will again be against Azerbaijan.
