Lithuania A Lyga - Week 9 Round-Up

July 11 & 12, 2020

Round 9

FK Panevezys 2-1 FK Riteriai  

Kauno Zalgiris 2-0 FK Banga Gargzdai  

FK Zalgiris 4-0 FK Suduva  

With 9 matches now played, there is just one set of matches left to complete the second round of fixtures in Lithuania’s A Lyga. The main talking point of this weekend’s results was FK Zalgiris’ emphatic win over FK Suduva, inflicting a first defeat of the season on the champions and giving hope that Suduva will not have an easy procession to the title this year. Kauno Zalgiris were also victorious, and remain one point behind FK Zilgiris. At the bottom, Panvezys leapfrogged over Riteriai with their win.

Playing in front of a healthy crowd on the artificial pitch at the LFF Stadium in Vilnius, Zalgiris took the lead in slightly fortuitous circumstances just before the half-time interval, when Matulevicius attempted to intercept a pass but only succeeded in diverting the ball past the wrong footed Suduva keeper. The lead was extended on 62 minutes when Canadian youngster Richie Ennin was fastest to react to a loose ball to fire into the roof of the net with Suduva defence performing impressions of statues. As a result of this effort Ennin became the season’s joint top goal scorer on 4 goals. 

Ghanian playmaker Francis Kyeremeh added a third a few minutes later with a low shot from just outside the area, and the rout was completed in injury time with a Hugo Videmont free-kick to send the crowd home happy. Zalgiris have now taken 4 points from their 2 matches with Suduva, and these are the only points Suduva have dropped. Zalgiris have been inconsistent though, despite thrashing Panevezys and Riteriai they have lost at home to Riteriai and Kauno and drawn with Banga.

Kauno Zalgiris kept the pressure on the top 2 with a routine home win over Banga Gargzdai. Karolis Silkaitis was left free to head home an inswinging cross after 31 minutes, and the midfielder added a second in the 69^th minute, sending a left footed shot into the corner after the Banga defence had blocked two other goal bound efforts.

Eliosaius wriggled his way between two defenders to give Panevezys a first half lead before Kruzikas was left unmarked inside the 6 yard box to turn home Amemiya’s low cross in the 55^th minute. Riteriai came back into the match after a second yellow card to Hugo Figueiredo for preventing a quick throw-in and although Kazlauskas scored from the penalty spot after a careless foul in the 75^th minute, Panevezys held on to move off the bottom of the table with their second consecutive home win. Riteriai have now lost three on the bounce.

Next weekend’s fixtures are :

Kauno Zalgiris vs FK Riteriai ( Saturday 18^th, 13.00 local/11.00 UK )

FK Panevezys vs  FK Zalgiris ( Sunday 19^th, 17.00 local/15.00 UK )

FK Banga Gargzdai vs FK Suduva ( Sunday 19^th, 19.00 local/17.00 UK )

Live coverage of matches from Lithuania is available on YouTube on the Delfi Sportas channel. Highlights are normally quickly posted on The Lithuanian Football League’s A Lyga YouTube channel after the matches have finished.