• Home
• Fixtures
• Match Report

Match Details

Teams

Report

Linfield kicked off the 2021-22 season away to Lithuanian champions Zalgiris Vilnius in the Champions League First Qualifying Round this evening as recent signing Chris Shields made his debut for the club.

Linfield were unlucky not to take the lead after eleven minutes when Christy Manzinga raced in behind a Zalgiris defender and into the box before firing a powerful strike at goal, only to see it crash back off the crossbar.

A scare came a few minutes later following a slack pass back from midfield which left Michael Newberry faced with a counter-attack to defend and, although he was outnumbered, he did brilliantly to thwart the break as he nipped in at the right time. The ball fell kindly in the box for Zalgiris’ Verbickas a short time later for a left-foot volley but he fired well over from 10 yards.

The breakthrough came on 37 minutes and it came for the hosts via a moment of magic. After a foul by Michael Newberry, Zalgiris talisman Hugo Videmont fired a free-kick over the wall and into the net from around 20 yards out.

On the stroke of half-time, things went from bad to worse. The Blues would have held their hands up to a moment of qualify for the opener, but the second goal would have been harder to take. Stephen Fallon blocked a shot at close proximity and the ball bounced up at his hand and a harsh penalty was given for the alleged handball offence. Tomislav Kis stepped up and sent Chris Johns the wrong way to make Linfield’s task all the more difficult.

Half Time: Zalgiris Vilnius 2 – 0 Linfield

The Lithuanian champions almost added a third shortly into the second half when winger Yeremeh fired in a glorious delivery and forward Sylvestr flashed a shot wide from close range with the goal at his mercy.

Linfield’s French striker Christy Manzinga offered some hope for the Blues on 53 minutes. Cameron Palmer ran at the Zalgiris backline from distance before taking on a 20 yard strike which was deflected and the goalkeeper could only parry it out before Christy Manzinga was on hand to nip in and fire home the rebound.

Unfortunately for Linfield, the hosts’ two-goal advantage was restored on 66 minutes. It was a hard luck story again as striker Jakub Sylvestr’s header from a corner struck the post and then bounced off the unfortunate Chris Johns and into the net.

Johns prevented a fourth 15 minutes from time when Sylvestr was slipped in from a neat threaded pass by substitute Onazi and the striker’s low shot was well saved by the Linfield ‘keeper who got down well to his left.

Former Hearts full-back Saulius Mikoliunas crossed brilliantly for Hugo Videmont at the back post but the striker headed just wide late on to ensure it finished 3-1. With the away goal rule now scrapped from the 2021-22 Qualifiers onwards, it promises a good open game next week. 3-1 was probably a harsh scoreline with luck not on Linfield’s side, and it was a good collective effort from Linfield against a team halfway through their season. Outside of the goals, Chris Johns was rarely troubled.

Full Time: Zalgiris Vilnius 3 – 1 Linfield

Match Images

1. David Healy : Disappointed in one or two of the decisions