Igol Vilnius claim Lithuanian title

A penalty shootout success in Palanga ensures Igol a place at next year’s Euro Winners Cup.

Igol Vilnius are the new Lithuanian champions after winning the eight-team event this weekend in the coastal resort of Palanga.

The country’s national team are in Euro Beach Soccer League action this coming weekend in Warnemunde and many of the players featured during the culmination of the Lithuania Beach Soccer Championship.

Igol met Vilnius Rings in the final and, having been level after normal and extra time, Igol eventually overcame their city rivals on penalties to ensure themselves the title.

The win also means Igol will be guaranteed a spot at next year’s Euro Winners Cup. A host of former Lithuania football internationals were present, including Mindaugas Malinauskas, Nerijus Radzius and Ramunas Radavicius, with the Lithuania Football Federation’s temporary President Vidmantas Butkevicius pleased to see beach soccer continue to develop.

“Of course, this is a great spectacle for the audience, and we have seen a competitive event on the sand,” he said. “The fact is that beach soccer in Lithuania is growing and attracting more teams and interested people.

“Next year we are hoping to have more participants and organise longer competitions.”