Lithuania captain Danalevicius inspires 4-1 win

PAOLA, Malta, Nov 15 (Reuters) Captain Tomas Danilevicius struck twice today to inspire Lithuania to a 4-1 victory over Malta in a friendly international.

The clash between two teams who came into this match on a high after emerging victorious from their last Euro 2008 qualifiers went Lithuania's way thanks to their knack to make the most of their scoring chances.

Victory in Malta is a further boost for Lithuania who have four points from their opening three Group B qualifiers after a 1-1 draw with world champions Italy and a 1-0 win away to the Faroe Islands.

Malta, who defeated Hungary 2-1 last month, were hampered by a mixture of poor defending and wasteful finishing.

The best chances in a low-key first half fell to Malta but it was Lithuania who reached halftime with a one-goal lead.

Danilevicius took advantage of some sloppy defending by the hosts to rifle the ball past Malta goalkeeper Mario Muscat from close range.

Earlier, the home team should have taken the lead after 13 minutes when AndrEe Schembri, who scored Malta's two goals in the 2-1 victory over Hungary, laid the ball back for the advancing Peter Pullicino but the fierce shot from the Malta midfielder came off the crossbar.

Late in the first half, Malta substitute Terrence Scerri, who had come on for the injured Schembri after 19 minutes, was clear after receiving a pass from George Mallia but his low strike was pushed away by goalkeeper Paulius Grybauskas.

Lithuania increased their advantage 13 minutes into the second half. Having parried two close-range attempts from Danilevicius and Tomas Radzinevicius, Andrew Hogg, Malta's substitute goalkeeper, could do nothing to stop Radzinevicius from heading the ball home at the third attempt.

The game was finished as a contest midway through the second half when Danilevicius notched his second goal with a well-hit volley.

Malta gained a consolation goal four minutes from time when Gilbert Agius, a late substitute, headed home from a cross by Kevin Sammut.

Agius's late goal triggered a late Malta rally but on the stroke of time, Lithuania restored their three-goal cushion when substitute Vitalijus Kavaliauskas concluded a sweeping counter-attack by stroking the ball past Hogg.

REUTERS SY RAI2157