FC Hegelmann 1-1 FA Saiuliai ( att : 365 ) – 2026 Lithuania A-Lyga

March 11, 2026

The 2026 season in Lithuania had now reached round 4, and after the first 3 rounds bizarrely being played indoors on artificial pitches, some matches are now being played outdoors, including today’s. Fatbear struggles to understand why the 36-game season in Lithuania can’t be scheduled to avoid having to play any matches in the indoor domes !

These diaries have regularly covered the A-Lyga, with 16 reports to-date, although the last was a review of the 2023 season. Panevezys’ victory in a 2024 Champions League Qualifying match against HJK Helsinki was also subsequently reported on.

A-Lyga Update

The A-Lyga was rebranded before the start of this season as TOPLYGA.

Following the unexpected success of FK Panevezys winning the title in 2023, normality returned in 2024 when FK Zalgiris won their 11^th title. However, 2025 saw another surprise when Kauno Zalgiris won their first ever title.

FC Hegelmann

Hegelmann were formed in 2009 as essentially a works team for a German freight and logistics company, and achieved promotion to the A-Lyga at the end of the 2020 season when they finished as runners-up in the I-Lyga. Since a 5^th placed finish at the end of the 2023 season, Hegelmann finished as runners-up in both the 2024 and 2025 campaigns. Hegelmann had also finished as runners-up in the 2022, 2024 & 2025 Lithuanian Cup.

In September 2024, Hegelmann moved into a new stadium, the Raudondvaris Stadium in a suburb of Kaunas, which has an official capacity of 1,550, and has an artificial surface. A bank of open seats ran along most of the far side with a tiny covered section either side of the half-way line, whilst there was a covered stand behind one of the goals. The other two sides of the ground were empty and fenced off.

Hegelmann competed in European competition in the past two seasons, but exited at the first hurdle on both occasions, being eliminated by FK Shkupi of North Macedonia and Irish side St Patrick’s Athletic, without winning a game.

After their second placed finish last season, Hegelmann’s start to the new season had been disappointing. In their first game they lost 0-2 in a “home” match against Banga played in the indoor dome in Marijampole, 63km away from Kaunas, but they drew both of their next two matches 1-1, against Dziugas again in Marijampole, and then at FK Panevezys.

The two home matches played in Marijampole had drawn pitiful attendances of 130 and 101, compared to an average of 411 for 2025.

Hegelmann are known as The Blue And Whites.

FC Hegelmann Squad

Of the key players that achieved the 5^th place finish in 2023, only midfielder Vilius Armanavicius ( 6 caps ) was still at the club, having returned before the start of this season after spells with Kazakh side Caspiy Aktau, and then Kauno Zalgiris after returning to Lithuania.

Ex-Riteriai and Kauno Brazilian forward Michael Thiuque was now with I-Lyga side FK BE1 after playing for Azeri side Shamakhi, and ex-Panevezys Brazilian centre-back/left-back Hugo Figueiredo had signed for Jonava after playing last season for Banga.

Ex-Spartak Trnava and Celje Croatian striker Filip Dangubic was now with Kuwaiti side Al-Jahra, ex- Belshina and Torpedo Zhodino Nigerian centre-back Samuel Odeoyobo was now playing in Kazakhstan, and ex-Gorodeya and Gomel Serbian playmaker Lazar Sajcic was currently without a club after fleeting stays in Slovenia, Malaysia, Serbia, Bosnia and Riteriai in Lithuania.

International centre-back Klaudijus Upstas ( 12 caps ) had joined Kauno Zalgiris in the winter break, striker Augustinas Klimavicius ( 6 caps ) was now playing in the 4^th level in Italy, and defender Vilius Armalas ( 6 caps ) had signed for MTK Budapest.

The current Hegelmann squad contained one current international, midfielder Matijus Remeikis had 4 caps, although centre-back Domas Slendzoka and winger Esmilis Kausinis were Under 21 internationals.

Winger Donatas Kazlauskas had won 34 caps and had played in Poland, Romania and Ukraine, whilst defender Rimvydas Sadauskas had been called up to national squad without making a debut, and had played in China.

Cameroon midfielder Samuel Gouet ( 34 caps ) had previously played for Mechelen, Yverdon-Sport and Politehnica Iasi, Japanese left-back/defensive midfielder Carlos Duke had signed from Latvian side Valmeira, and Ukrainian midfielder Artem Shchedryi had played for several sides in his homeland as well as Levadia in Estonia, Prostejov in the Czech Republic and Panevezys in Lithuania.

Bosnian right-back Vedad Radonja had briefly played for AEK Athens, striker Abdel Njoya was from Cameroon, whilst keeper Lukas Paukste was now with his fifth Lithuanian club. Swedish forward Darrell Tibbell had previously played for IFK Norkopping and Norwegian side Sandefjord.

Nigerian defender Barry Isaac had featured in these diaries playing for West Armenia in 2024 and midfielder Wesley was Brazilian.

FA Saiuliai

FA Saiuliai were founded in 2007 as a football academy and worked their way up the Lithuanian pyramid to achieve promotion to the A-Lyga for the 2022 season. With a squad of Lithuanian players, plus two from Ukraine, Saiuliai finished 3^rd in 2023 to qualify for their only season in Europe, where they lost 0-2 on aggregate to Estonian side Levadia.

In the past two seasons Saiuliai had finished 7^th and 5^th.

Saiuliai’s start to this season saw a 2-2 at FK TransInvest, then a 0-0 draw at Sudova. The home game played in the Panevezys indoor dome against FK Zalgiris resulted in a 0-2 loss in front of an attendance of 255. Last season their average attendance was 656.

FA Saiuliai Squad

Star midfielder Daniel Romanovskis ( 12 caps ) was back at the club after a brief spell with Dinamo Tbilisi, but Ukrainian top scorer Oleksiy Shchebetun was now playing in Kazakhstan for Qizilqum, and forward Eligijus Jankauskas ( 12 caps ) was now playing in the Israeli second tier for Hapoel Rishon LeZion.

Despite their reputation as an academy for local talent, Saiuliai’s squad for this season contained seven foreigners. Portuguese winger Rui Batalha had been a lower league journeyman in his home country before joining in January, full-back Marko Mandic was from Serbia, midfielder Sammy Skytte was Danish and had played for Silkeborg, Bodo/Glimt in Norway and HB Torshavn in the Faroe Islands, Nigerian centre-forward Chidera Nwoga had signed from Lithuanian side FK TransInvest after playing in Malta, whilst left-back Lazar Vukovic was also from Serbia.

Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva, more commonly known as Benny, had been on the books of Feyenoord and loaned to Dordrecht, whilst Ghanaian midfielder Divine Naah had been at Manchester City as a youth, and had subsequently appeared for NAC Breda, AFC Tubize, FC Nordsjaelland in addition to playing for sides in Norway, Sweden, Israel, Malta, Azerbaijan as well as several seasons at Kauno Zalgiris in Lithuania.

Defender Nojus Stankevičius had been called up to the National squad but was still to make his debut. Brooklyn Leipus started his career at Bristol Rovers, and had been loaned out to Didcot and Cinderford then played for Swindon Supermarine before returning to Lithuania in January.

Matchday Information

The journey from Saiuliai to Kaunas is approximately 145 kms and should normally take just over 2 hours. It looked like around 20 Saiuliai supporters had made the journey.

The weather at the 14.00 kick-off ( 12.00 UK time ) was sunny and the temperature 12 degrees.

Entrance to the game was free, as were all of Hegelmann’s home games at the Raudondvaris Stadium in 2025.

Bet365 made Hegelmann 7/10 favourites, with Saiuliai at 16/5 and the draw 13/5

Hegelmann made two changes to the side that with Panevezys, with Rokas Bagdonavicius replacing Paukste in goal for his debut and Gouet replaced Kazlauskas.

FA Saiuliai made one change from their last match, with 19 year old Danielius Jarasius replacing Deividas Dovydaitis

The Blue and Whites were playing in a mostly white shirt with black shorts and white socks, whilst Saiuliai were in all yellow. The referee and his assistants were in all black, a rarity these days !

The national anthem was played before kick-off.

Matchday Report

Hegelmann were on the attack in the first minute after a quickly taken free-kick enabled Kausinis to release Duke down the left. Two Hegelmann attackers managed to get their heads to the cross, which was eventually cleared, and when the home sides reworked possession and the ball was returned into the Siauliai area, there were appeals for a handball against Bierontas which the referee waved away.

It was the visitors though who had the first chance of the match as Nwoga caused a nuisance of himself inside the Hegelmann penalty area in the 4^th minute, and the ball fell to Romanovskis, but his first time left footed shot from 8 yards was blocked by Bagdonavicius and hoofed away from a throw-in.

A minute later Hegelmann’s Njoya looked to be running clear on goal but the referee blew for a foul on Gabijus Micevicius, who had fallen to the floor, perhaps far too easily when challenged.

Hegelmann won the first corner of the game in the 13^th minute when, with Saiuliai in possession halfway inside the Hegelmann half, Micevicius strangely decided to play a pass back to his goalkeeper, but the execution was appalling and keeper Linkevicius had to come out of his area to concede a throw-in to prevent Njoya from capitalising. Hegelmann took the throw quickly but Stankevicius made an important tackle on Njoya and the ball went out for a corner.

Bagdonavicius was in the action again in the 15^th minute, leaping to claw away Batalha’s left footed chip at the far post to prevent Nwoga heading home. He needed to be alert a minute later to gather a header from Pranckus from another cross from the left by Batalha. Saiuliai were looking dangerous.

At the other end, Linkevicius bravely dived at the feet of Njoya after a through ball by Kausinis and when Njoya gathered the loose ball, his cross along the face of the goalmouth was cleared by the sliding Bierontas. Siauliai went down the other end and Micevicius’ ball across the 18-yard line reached Batalha, but under pressure the Portuguese winger could only shoot a couple of feet wide.

The game turned in first half added time, when Stankevičius leapt with Njoya to make a defensive header but the ball struck his outstretched arm and a penalty was awarded. Although Linkevicius went the right way, he was unable to reach Armanavicius’s spot-kick. 1-0 after 45+2 minutes.

Matters got worse for Saiuliai in the 67^th minute when Stankevicius pulled back Njoya to prevent the Cameroonian from racing clear, and received a second yellow and hence a red card for his troubles.

Saiuliai kept plugging away though despite the numerical disadvantage, and got their reward near the end of the match when Nwoga ran onto a ball into the Hegelmann area from Pranckus and produced an excellent acrobatic finish to send the ball past Bagdoanavicius before Sadauskas could make a block. 1-1 with 87 minutes played.

There was still time for Hegelmann to create chances to win the game. Substitute Tibell completely missed his header from a left wing cross when free 6 yards out, then Kazlauskas’ left footed effort from the edge of the area went narrowly over the bar. However, Saiuliai held on for a point, which left both sides winless so far in the season

Highlights : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXu_PyccbZc

FC Hegelmann : Bagdonavicius – Radonja ( Isaac ), Gouet, Sadauskas, Slendzoka, Duke – Shchedryi, Remeikis ( Kazlauskas ), Armanavicius ( Wesley ), Kausinis ( Kaulinis ) – Njoya ( Tibell )

FA Saiuliai : Linkevicius – Micevicius, Stankevicius, Bierontas, Vukovic – Pranckus ( Vaitiekaitis ), Romanovskis ( Leipus ), Zebrauskas ( Gestaukas ), Jarasius ( Dovydaitis ), Batalha ( Naah ) – Nwoga

 

 

Australia 2-1 China ( att : 35,170 ) – 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup

March 17, 2026

The 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup had now reached the semi-final stage as host nation Australia played China in Perth.

Tournament Update

These diaries had reported on one match in the Women’s Asian Cup so far, covering South Korea’s 3-0 victory over Iran, where nearly all of the mainstream media coverage focused on the Iranian team and coaches not signing the national anthem. The anthem was then sung and saluted in Iran’s two subsequent matches, although there was much speculation that this had been under duress from the Iranian authorities.

Following their exit from the competition, six Iranian players, Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramezanisadeh, Mona Hamoudi and Mohaddeseh Zolfi, five of whom appeared against South Korea, plus a member of the admin staff, had accepted the offer from the Australian Government for visas to stay in the country. However, with suggestions that all had subsequently been subjected to pressure from the Iranian authorities over threats to their families, five of the refusniks changed their minds and flew back to Iran amid much concern over how they would be treated upon their return. This left just Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh remaining in Australia.

Group A saw South Korea and Australia finish level on 7 points but South Korea topped the group on goal difference after the two sides played out a thrilling 3-3 draw in the final fixture. The home support for The Matildas had been superb, with 44,379 turning up in Perth, 22,398 in Gold Coast, and a fantastic 60,279 in Sydney for the game against South Korea. No other group game in the tournament had attracted more than 10,000.

In Group B, China won their three matches, with North Korea being runners-up. China came out 2-1 winners in the meeting between the two sides, after North Korea had a late equaliser disallowed by VAR for offside.

Group C saw Japan easily win all three of their matches, including an 11-0 victory over India, but there was a slight surprise when Taiwan beat Vietnam 1-0 to take second place. Vietnam were four places higher in the FIFA rankings.

The two best third placed qualifiers were Uzbekistan, who won their final game 4-0 over Bangladesh and Philippines, who beat Iran 2-0, both of whom had a better goal difference than Vietnam, who lost their final game 0-4 to Japan.

China were given an unexpected tough tie against Taiwan, and needed extra-time for Shao Ziqin and an own goal to give them a 2-0 victory.

The two other quarter-finals were one sided, with accusations that the two losers had prioritised the losers play-offs for the World Cup rather than trying to make the semi-finals. Uzbekistan lost 0-6 to South Korea and Philippines lost 0-7 to Japan.

South Korea and Japan were to meet in the other semi-final, but Uzbekistan were to play The Philippines and North Korea were to play against Taiwan with the winners qualifying for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, with the two losers entering the Intercontinental play-offs.

Australia

Australia won the 2010 Women’s Asian Cup in China when they beat North Korea on penalties after a 1-1 draw, and had twice been runners-up, but were eliminated in the quarter-finals in 2022 by South Korea.

Australia hosted the 2023 World Cup, but were eliminated in the semi-finals after a 1-3 defeat to England, and then lost 0-2 to Sweden to finish 4^th which marked the highest-ever finish of any Australian soccer team in senior level.

The current Australian squad played all over the globe, with only three players with A-League Women clubs, which continued to be played during the tournament. Thirteen players were with sides in the English WSL, three in Sweden, two in the USA, Italy and Germany, and one in Canada. Of the players in England, three played for Arsenal and two for Chelsea.

The undoubted star of the side was Chelsea forward Sam Kerr, with 134 caps and was the record goal scorer with 71 goals for The Matildas. Kerr had sometimes been reported by careless elements of the mass media as being an indigenous Australian, but in reality, her mother was born in India.

Australia began their campaign with a 1-0 victory in Perth over The Philippines when Kerr scored from close range early in the first half, and then beat Iran 4-0 in The Gold Coast thanks to two goals from London City Lioness’ Alanna Kennedy, and Malmo’s Amy Sayer and Manchester City’s Mary Fowler. The 3-3 draw with South Korea saw two more goals from Kennedy including the 98^th minute equaliser, plus another from Kerr.

Australia started the competition in 15^th place in the FIFA rankings, but their failure to top the group ahead of 21^st ranked South Korea meant they faced a tricky tie against 10^th ranked North Korea, who had failed to top their group against 17^th ranked China. This was probably not a quarter-final that the organisers had been wishing for, as an early elimination for the hosts would undoubtedly have major consequences on the profitability of the tournament. However, despite being outplayed for most of the game, the Matilda’s took advantage of two defensive mistakes to take a 2-0 lead through Kennedy and Kerr, and although North Korea pulled one back, they held on to claim a 2-1 victory.

China

China were the power-house in the Asia region and had won the tournament on 9 occasions, and were the defending champions after beating South Korea 3-2 in the 2022 final in India.

This strength had not really transferred at a global level, where China’s best performance in the Women’s World Cup was to be runners-up in 1999, losing to the USA in a penalty shoot-out after a 0-0 draw, and coming fourth in 1995.

China were disappointing in the most recent World Cup held in Australia in 2023, where they lost to Denmark ( 0-1 ) and England ( 1-6 ), and a 1-0 victory over Haiti was not enough to progress from their group.

As defending champions, China were not required to qualify for the 2026 Asian Cup.

China’s form in the build up to the tournament had been patchy, losing 0-3 to the USA, 0-8 to England and 2-3 to Scotland, although they had drawn with regional rivals South Korea ( 2-2 ) and Japan ( 0-0 ) in friendlies.

Five of the 26 player squad were with sides outside of China, although only one, forward Wu Chengshu at French side Dijon, started against Taiwan. Full-back Wang Ying and attacker Yuan Cong were with Australian side Western Sydney Wanderers, midfielder Wang Yanwen was also with Dijon, and defender Li Mengwen was playing in Scotland for Rangers.

Captain and defender Wu Haiyan ( 142 caps ) played for Wuhan Jiangda and midfielder Wang Shuang ( 130 caps ) was also playing for Wuhan. Midfielder Zhang Rui ( 154 caps ) was with Shangdong, keeper Peng Shimang ( 30 caps ) was with Guangdong and Shanghai midfielder Zhang Xin had 47 caps.

Matchday Information

Australia’s first match in Perth had been played at the 60,000 Perth Stadium, but the quarter-final had been played at the smaller 19,500 capacity Perth Rectangular Stadium, which was home to Perth Glory and the Western Force Rugby Union side, and saw 16,466 attending. The semi-final was also originally slated to be played at the Perth Rectangular Stadium, but with the host nation playing, the game was moved to the Perth Stadium.

The weather at the 18.00 local time kick-off ( 10.00 UK ) was sunny and the temperature was 30 degrees.

Tickets for the game ranged between 30-130 AUD ( £16 to £69 )

Bet365, who were streaming the game live, made Australia 4/6 favourites, with China at 16/5 and the draw at 13/5. The match was also streamed on the AFC Asian Cup YouTube Channel with an English commentary.

Australia made one change, with Kyra Cooney-Cross replacing Emily van Egmond. In contrast China made 5 changes, bringing in Zhang Chengxue, Yao Wei, Wang Aifang, Zhang Rui and Wurigumula with Li Mengwen, Wang Linlin, Wang Shuang, Qingtong Li and Wu Chengshu missing out.

Australia were in a kit of all black with lime green trimmings, whilst China were in all red. The referee was Supiree Testhomya from Thailand.

Match Report

China looked lively in the opening stages but Australia were the first to threaten, when in the fifth minute Arsenal’s Caitlin Foord delivered a precise cross from the left towards the far post but Fowler volleyed over from 6 yards.

Australia looked suspect against China’s high press as they tried to build from the back, but they managed to avoid any major clangers. Wurigumula saw a shot blocked by Kennedy and after a corner was half cleared to the edge of the penalty area, Chen’s shot went straight at keeper Mackenzie Arnold, who gathered at the second attempt. 

The opening goal came shortly after when Fowler slid a pass to for Carpenter to run on to and pull across the goalmouth from the angle of the 6-yard box for Foord finish with a powerful drive into the left corner from close to the penalty spot. 1-0 with 16 minutes played.

China looked to quickly hit back and Wurigumula’s curling effort from the edge of the area was pushed away by the diving Arnold, but shortly after Tottenham’s Claire Hunt misjudged a bouncing ball and Zhang Linyan nipped in to run into the Australian area and hit the deck when trying to go around Arnold. I’m not sure how much contact there was and Zhang seemed to be already heading to the ground when her leg grazed the body of the Aussie keeper, but the penalty was awarded and Arnold received a yellow card. It all looked very soft.

However, Zhang made no mistake from the spot, sending Arnold the wrong way as the keeper dived to her right. 1-1 after 26 minutes.

The game remained even at the break with neither side making any impression.

China again started on the front foot, but it was Australia who grabbed the next goal. Foord played a through ball for Kerr to run onto, and although the Chelsea striker was forced wide as she rounded keeper Peng Shimeng she was able to produce an outstanding left footed finish from an acute angle, beating Yao Wei’s despairing effort to clear off the line. 2-1 with 58 minutes on the clock.

Although China dominated possession for the rest of the game, they were unable to generate any real clear chances, the closest being Chen Qiaozhu’s far post header from a corner going a yard or two wide, and in added on time Wang Aifang’s long range drive was deflected narrowly wide for a corner. However, The Matildas held onto their lead pretty comfortably to move into the final, where they would meet Japan in the Sydney Olympic Stadium.

Highlights : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUxhy5G2ZYg

Australia : Arnold – Carpenter, Catley, Hunt ( Heatley ), Torpey – Cooney-Cross ( Wheeler ), Kennedy ( Van Egmond ), Gorry ( Rule ) – Fowler ( Sayer ), Kerr, Foord

China : Shimeng – Zheng CX ( Wang L ), Wu H, Yo, Chen – Wang A, Wang Y ( Liu ), Zhang R ( Li ), Zhang L – Wurigumula ( Jun ), Shao