
13-06-2007, 15:30
|
 |
Senior Member
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 3907
Nominated 1 Time in 1 Post
TOTW/F/M Award(s): 0
|
|
|
Re: Intertoto Cup 1st leg 23/24. June
here's a patriotic early preview for Vėtra v Llanelli from welsh-premier site
Quote:
REDS' OPPONENTS IN FORM SLUMP
Peter Nicholas has rung the changes at Stebonheath Park.
LLANELLI are eyeing more European success with their InterToto Cup opponents FK Vetra in turmoil at the top.
The Vilnius outfit started the season confident of battling for the title under coach Aleksandr Tarkhanov but, with the club now sixth in the table - 13 points adrift of leaders FBK Kaunas - the Russian has left by mutual consent.
Former FC Spartak Moskva and Russia midfielder Ilya Tsymbalar was brought in by the Lithuanians with a view to taking over, but Vetra president Romas Stašauskas decided not to hire him.
Instead, the 33-year-old Donatas Vencevicius - Tarkhanov's old assistant - has been appointed, although Vitautas Jancauskas will be officially in charge since Vencevicius does not yet have the necessary Uefa coaching licence.
Capped 33 times by Lithuania, the former midfielder's biggest achievement as a player was winning the Danish league title in 2001 with FC København.
However, there is one bad omen for Llanelli, as he is also no stranger to playing Welsh Premier clubs, scoring the only goal for Zalgiris Vilnius in their 1-0 win over Barry Town in the European Cup Winners Cup first round, first leg tie at Ninian Park back in 1994.
Last year, Llanelli shocked Swedish outfit Gefle in the Uefa Cup first qualifying round and will travel to the Vetra Stadium for a June 24 showdown in good heart.
Manager Peter Nicholas has rung the changes at Stebonheath Park. Out go controversial striker cum centre back Cortez Belle, Spaniard Efren Fernandez, midfielder Neil Thomas and wideman Nicky Palmer.
In come veteran Football League defender Paul Wanless, Merthyr's Welsh semi-pro Chris Holloway, young keeper Ryan Harrison and striker Sam Small.
With Wanless ruled out of the first leg through holiday and Holloway from both legs due to injury, Nicholas is still looking to strengthen, although Port Talbot's ex-Swans defender Lee Surman has rejected a move to the Reds.
But he will be encouraged by Vetra's ailing form and hopeful of progressing to a second round date with opponents from Poland.
12 June 2007
|
|