If Google has a football Zeitgiest, “where is Lithuania” would have to be peaking tonight and early tomorrow.
The small country along the Baltic Sea drew World Champions Italy tonight 1 – 1.
It was a fantastic result in a well-played game that saw the underdogs scoring first on 21 minutes via Tomas Danilevicius.
The Azzurri nearly answered back within seconds as recalled striker Antonio Cassano chested down in the box, and with the keeper beaten, fired just wide of the post.
However the Italians would only be denied so long. And nine minutes later Cassano again found himself open in the penalty area, chested down, and deftly touched across to a hard-charging Filippo Inzaghi who tapped in from a few yards out.
It was mostly the Italians pressing the rest of the way, although Lithuania did have their chances. Cassano was dangerous all night and only sterling goalkeeping kept him off the score sheet.
For a national about one fifth the size of Italy, with approximately 55 million less people, and having only being a country for about 16 years, it’s a result Lithuanians will surely be proud of.
Justifiably so. A brilliant performance.
Related:
Lithuania – Wikipedia
Italy – Wikipedia
Italy Merchandise
