Returning after the summer holiday, Gintra hosted Vilnius MFA Žalgiris-MRU in the Baltic League.
After a fierce contest at Šiauliai Central Stadium, Gintra 1:0 (0–0 at half-time) defeated the visitors for their fourth Baltic League win from four matches.
A semi-final place is already secured. Next Sunday's home match against also-perfect Flora Tallinn decides the regular-season winners.
Lineup: A. Schroeder, A. Mikutaitė (C), L. Kubiliūtė, T. Romanovskaja, K. O’Brien, R. Diodati (47' min. M. Proscevičiūtė), A. Sunday, M. Galkina, J. Sunday, E. Šupelytė, J. Bassey (90' min. N. Klezaitė).
Goals:
„Gintra“: E. Šupelytė (54') – 1.
Both sides began cautiously, spending ten minutes assessing each other. Juliet Sunday then had the first scoring chance, but Meda Šeškutė saved.
Žalgiris later threatened, but their striker could not convert the opening.
Šupelytė missed an excellent 21st-minute chance, striking a rebound back at the goalkeeper after Šeškutė's initial save.
Near half-time, Šupelytė again shot over. Sunday then missed another golden opportunity: Šeškutė produced an excellent save from her penalty, awarded after Abigail Sunday was fouled. The teams went into the break goalless.
Proscevičiūtė replaced first-half injury victim Ruby Diodati after the interval. More active Gintra play pinned the opponents back and paid off. In the 54th minute, Šupelytė expertly converted a free kick from around 17 metres for 1–0.
Laura Kubiliūtė nearly doubled the lead with a skilful header after rising high, but it flew narrowly wide.
Žalgiris had an equalising chance in the 72nd minute, but reliable Adrianna Schroeder kept Gintra's clean sheet. A few minutes later, midfielder Maya Musaskaya received a second yellow for another heavy challenge and the visitors were reduced to ten.
Bassey could have settled the contest but shot over from a good position. No more goals followed, allowing Gintra to celebrate another win.
Match highlights: