Pukštas Targeted by Bottles in Vilnius
Hajduk defeated Žalgiris 5-2 away, but the Lithuanian fans didn't give their former fellow citizen a warm welcome. The Whites' coach praised the young midfielder and his 'animal' mentality.
Hajduk defeated Žalgiris 5-2 away, but the Lithuanian fans didn't give their former fellow citizen a warm welcome. The Whites' coach praised the young midfielder and his 'animal' mentality.
On Wednesday, August 6, 2026, Hajduk took a giant step towards the Conference League playoffs. They convincingly defeated Žalgiris 5-2 away in Vilnius, ending a six-year winless streak away from home in European competitions.
Scorers for the Split club were Michele Šego (two goals), Adrion Pajaziti, Dalisson, and Rokas Pukštas. However, it was the latter who remained in the spotlight even after the final whistle, not just for his on-field performance.
During the match, several plastic bottles were thrown from the Lithuanian fans' section towards Pukštas, who was born in Lithuania but chose to represent the United States national team. Lithuanian journalists asked Hajduk's coach, Gonzalo Garcia, at the press conference whether he planned to take any action regarding the incident.
"No. I don't plan to do anything about it. In Croatia, they throw a lot of things too; we're used to it. The people were full of respect. Rokas is from here, so I understand that people expected him to play for Lithuania. He's focused on his development, and that's great for a young player. I spoke with him; he'll now see his family, and he loves this country. There will always be someone upset, but he loves this country," Garcia told Tportal.
In an interview with Danas.net.hr, Garcia was even more colorful: "Ah, you should see what they throw in Croatia... I'd say the people were full of respect towards him. He'll stay a few hours with his family. There are all kinds of people, but I wouldn't pay attention to it."
The Uruguayan tactician didn't hide his delight at Pukštas's development since he took over the team 14 months ago. "When I first arrived, Rokas wasn't playing much. In my opinion, he has immense talent, he's a hard worker, maybe too much so; sometimes we have to rein him in. He's improved his left foot; now I don't know which is his stronger foot. He's strong, incredibly athletic, with great genetics from his parents," Garcia listed.
The Whites' coach believes the young midfielder hasn't yet reached his full potential. "I think he hasn't touched his ceiling yet; this could be his best season in terms of numbers. He'll continue to grow. Mentally, he has no issues because he's an 'animal'," Garcia concluded, adding that they sometimes have to restrain Pukštas in training due to his incredible work ethic.
Reflecting on his team's overall performance, Garcia was honest about the challenges of working at Hajduk. "When you lose a couple of matches at Hajduk, there's pressure, but tonight it's been six years since Hajduk won an away European match. We were better, yet we almost ended the first half level. Something always has to go wrong for us; it's impossible. It's really not easy with us," he said.
Despite everything, he remains optimistic about the future of the club from Poljud: "I've been here for 14 months, and focus is important to us. It can be damn hard, but we all have to be together and improve. The team's future is secure; we have many young players. You see Pukštas, Silić, Hrgović... We have to help them, and they'll get even better." It was Toni Silić who wore the captain's armband against Žalgiris, a decision Garcia confirmed as his own, calling him one of the team's captains.
Hajduk will play the return leg against Žalgiris at Poljud in a week. If they advance, they will face the winner of the tie between Poland's Rakow and Sweden's Hammarby in the battle for a spot in the Conference League league phase. Their first match in Poland ended goalless, 0-0.
