Derry City crash out of Europa League after extra-time sucker punch

DERRY CITY crashed out of the UEFA Europa League at the first hurdle after an extra-time defeat to FK Riteriai at the National Stadium in Vilnius.

Lithuanian international striker Donatas Kazlauskas proved the match winner with an excellent 25 yard strike which sailed over the head of Peter Cherrie during the first minute of extra-time.

It was certainly a missed opportunity for Declan Devine's team to advance to the second round of European competition for the first time since 2014 as the Lithuanians looked there for the taking.

Nevertheless it was a valiant effort from the League of Ireland side and a 3-2 loss would've been a terrific result to bring home to Brandywell under normal circumstances but the one-legged shootout format meant it was the end of the line.

Riteriai were the lowest ranked opponents Derry could've got in the draw for the first round qualifier and the Lithuanians came into the game struggling at the foot of their domestic league.

Their defensive frailties were evident early on as Derry got off to a dream start with former Dunfermline midfielder, Joe Thomson displaying excellent composure when firing into the bottom corner after just 17 minutes.

It was no more than they deserved but six minutes before the interval Derry were pegged back as Lithuania U21 international, Gytis Paulauakas met Kazlauskas' cross and powered his header past Cherrie at the near post.

Riteriai's dangerman, Paulauakas punished Derry once again five minutes into the second period from a free-kick when he got beyond the retreating Ciaran Coll to head the home side in front for the first time in the game.

Eoin Toal then sent a thunderous header past Riteriai keeper Tadas Simaitis on 63 minutes to force extra-time and give Derry real hope.

It was the first time the Candy Stripes were taken to extra-time in Europe in 21 matches but it proved a step too far as Kazlauskas , who has now scored 24 goals in 58 appearances for the Lithuainians, stunned Cherrie with a clever finish which proved to be the winner.

Riteriai's name is in the hat for Monday's second round draw in Nyon while Devine must pick his troops up for a trip to Drogheda in the FAI Cup second round on Saturday.

Devine had made two changes from the team which clinched victory over Cork in the league last Friday night.

Walter Figueira who netted his third goal of the season against the Leesiders, and in-form midfielder Jack Malone both sustained injuries in training which ruled them out of the squad.

In came ex-Sheffield United midfielder, Jake Dunwoody and striker, James Akintunde who scored the third in that impressive comeback win over the Rebels.

Derry began impressively against the Lithuanians during a frantic opening 10 minutes as Devine's troops were allowed to settle, looking slick on the ball.

Akintunde played Coll in behind the Riteriai defence and the St Johnstone man pulled it back for Dunwoody but he flashed his shot wide.

Derry were comfortable and the lively Adam Hamilll tried his luck from wide on the left and it bounced in front of the Riteriai keeper who parried it to safety.

It came as no surprise when City opened the scoring on 17 minutes when Coll sent in a high, hopeful ball into the box which was knocked down by Ibrahim Meite who held off two defenders.

Thomson arrived late into the penalty area, took a touch before firing low into the bottom corner with a composed finish - the Paisley native's first for the club!

The 'FK Knights' responded and were gifted a promising free-kick on the edge of the Derry penalty area when Conor McCormack obstructed the dangerous Kazlauskas. Lezama Arteaga, however, failed to find the target as he curled his effort wide of the near post.

Meite showed a good turn of pace as he got down the right wing and into the box but his cut-back was eventually scrambled away by the Riteriai defence.

The home side's first chance of the match arrived just short of the half hour when Arteaga crossed from the left, Coll lost his footing and the onrushing Traore blasted his shot harmlessly over the bar.

And from Riteriai's first shot on target on 39 minutes they got back on level terms. Following a quick break, Kazlauskas crossed invitingly towards the near post where Paulauakas got in front of his man and headed past Cherrie.

That goal gave the Lithuanians confidence. Derry had been in command for the majority of the first half and they will no doubt have been hugely frustrated to have been pegged back before the interval.

Riteriai ended the half in the ascendancy but the tie was on a knife-edge as the rain began to pour down in the Lithuanian capital.

City made a disastrous start to the second half as Grigaravicius sent in a free-kick from the right and Paulauakas guided his header past Cherrie for his second of the game.

Riteriai appeared content to invite their visitors on and it was a risky tactic which was punished on 63 minutes.

Hammill played a short corner with Meite before crossing dangerously into the box where Toal rose above Sveikauskas and powered his header past Simaitis from six yards to level matters.

Lezama Arteaga did well to work himself into space deep inside the Derry half before finding Kazlauskas but he scuffed his shot and Cherrie gathered comfortably.

With six minutes remaining Derry sub, Stephen Mallon whipped in a superb cross towards the near post where Paulauskas almost diverted the ball into his own net but it went just wide of the mark.

Akintunde had two half chances as the game approached second half stoppage time but Derry looked the most likely to get a winner as Riteriai fatigued.

Derry once again caught cold during the first 60 seconds of the first period of extra-time. Kazlauskas ran at Colm Horgan on the left flank and the Lithuanian forward bent his shot over the head of the retreating Cherrie and into the top corner.

Riteriai defender Sveikauskas clipped the top of the crossbar with a header from a corner in the 97th minute of the game.

Horgan and Hammill combined as Derry went desperately in search of an equaliser but when the ball fell to Mallon he failed to trouble the keeper from 20 yards.

Substitute, Ciaron sent a looping header just over the crossbar but Derry couldn't find a breakthrough.

There was a long delay at the start of the second period of extra-time when Conor Clifford was stretchered off after a collision with his teammate, Horgan.

Toal headed over from close range after meeting Mallon's cross and despite muted calls for a push on the City defender, the Finnish referee signalled for a goal kick.

With six minutes of stoppage time left to save their European campaign, the Riteriai keeper spilled a cross from Harkin but Hammill wasted a chance to level the game when he tamely passed it into the hands of the grateful Simaiti who was off his line.

That was the last meaningful chance for Derry as they came up short in Vilnius.

It's back to domestic matters for the Brandywell club who must lift themselves for a trip to Drogheda on Saturday in the FAI Cup second round.

Derry City: P. Cherrie; C. Horgan, E. Toal, D. Cole, C. Coll; A. Hammill, C. McCormack, J. Dunwoody (S. Mallon 56), J. Thomson (C. Clifford 73, Bruna 111); J. Akintunde, I. Meite (C. Harkin 85); Subs Not Used - N. Gartside, R. Boyce, M. McChrystal.

FK Riteriai: T. Simaitis; A. Kalermo, R. Sveikauskas, D. Barauskas, D. Malzinkas; T. Dombrauskis (Ramanauskas 88), L. Traore (Kodz 77), A. Artega Lezama, M. Grigaravicius (Godwin 116); G. Paulauskas (Filipavicius 102), D. Kazlauskas; Subs Not Used - Paukste, Jeriomenko, Masenzovas, Ramanauskas.

Referee - Ville Nevalainen (Finland)