Lithuania A Lyga – Round-Up After Week 14

August 7 & 8, 2020

Round 11 saw the dramatic match between FK Suduva and Banga Gargzdai where Suduva had three men sent off in a cynical display but managed to hold out for a 0-0 draw to still hold a 3 point lead over FK Zalgiris, with Kauno Zalgiris a point further behind.

Weeks 12 and 13 saw Suduva eek out two unconvincing wins, leaving it late to win 2-1 at bottom side Riteriai thanks to Tadic’s spectacular scissor kick, and hanging on for a 1-0 home win over Panevezys. Their lead remained 3 points as FK Zalgiris had recorded wins over Panevezys ( 2-1 ) and FK Kauno ( 3-1 ) with Videmont and Antal between them scoring all of the goals.

Due to their loss to FK Zalgiris, hampered by a stupid red card to Rudnilson for a head-butt,  and a disastrous 2-3 loss at homw to Banga, where they fell 0-3 behind before clawing back two own goals, Kauno slipped to 10 points off the pace.

Following their draw at Suduva, and surprise win at Kauno, Banga consolidated their position in fourth place with a draw with Ritteriai, which they probably should have won.

FK Zalgiris 1-0 Banga Gargzdai

A close range header in the 17^th minute from Hugo Videmont was enough to settle this match, and the Frenchman moved to 9 goals for the season. However, Serbian centre-back Ivan Tatomirovic seeing red just before half-time for a second yellow made it harder for Zalgiris, but apart from a scramble in added on time they held on quite comfortably for three important points.

FK Kauno Zalgiris 3-0 FK Suduva

After disappointing losses in their last two matches this was a must win game for Kauno and they delivered, and Suduva fell to their second loss of the season. When they lose, Suduva lose big, with their other loss being 0-4 at FK Zalgiris. That defeat seems to have damaged the champions confidence as they have produced a series of ordinary displays since, and although it was level at half-time here, they were swept aside in the second half.

Otele opened the floodgates in the 52 minutes with a low 20 yard effort and Pilibaitas doubled the lead from a similar distance but with his left foot for his sixth goal of the season. Buschman’s penalty completed the misery for Suduva. As a consequence of this result, Suduva relinquish top spot to FK Zalgiris on goal difference.

FK Panevezys 1-1 FK Riteriai

The match between the two bottom sides ended as a draw, with Panevezys ending a run of 4 losses to stay one point ahead of Riteriai. Venezuelan Angel Lezama gave Riteriai the lead after 56 minutes when his free-kick took a freak bounce over the diving keeper for his first goal for the club, and he missed a double chance to extend the lead a few minutes later.  This proved to be costly as Elias equalised on 67 minutes with a close range header at the far post. Panevezys pressed for the winner and they hit the post and forced Simaitis to make two good saves, but Riteriai held on for the draw.

Top Goalscorers

Hugo Videmont ( FK Zalgiris )          9

Linas Pilibaitas ( FK Kauno )             6

Josip Tadic ( FK Suduva )                  6

Mihret Topcagic ( FK Suduva )         5

Round 15 is scheduled for this week with the top 2 meeting on Wednesday evening

Wednesday 12^th August

FK Suduva vs FK Zalgiris ( 19.00 local/17.00 UK )

Friday 14^th August

FK Riteriai vs FK Kauno Zalgiris ( 19.00 local/17.00 UK )

Saturday 15^th August

FK Banga Gargdzai vs FK Paneveyzs ( 17.00 local/15.00 UK )