September 27, 2020
Sunday 27th, September
FK Banga Gargzdai vs FK Kauno Zalgiris ( 15.00 local/13.00 UK )
FK Zalgiris vs FK Panevezys ( 17.00 local/15.00 UK )
FK Suduva vs FK Riteriai ( 19.00 local/17.00 UK )
The Lithuania A Lyga resumes on Sunday after a break of over a month to allow for the Nations League, a round of matches in the Lithuanian Cup, and preparation and participation in the European club competitions for four of the sides.
Since the last review in early August, Champions FK Suduva have regained their place at the top of the table after beating FK Zalgiris 2-0 in a tight, niggly encounter in Marijampole. Two late headed goals from veteran Bosnian centre-back Semir Kerla gave Suduva a deserved revenge for the 0-4 drubbing FK Zalgiris had inflicted in July, and a much needed morale boost after the 0-3 defeat at Kauno Zalgiris the weekend before and the three red-card fiasco against Banga.
In the Champions League, Suduva progressed on penalties after a 1-1 draw against Flora in Tallinn before a disappointing home defeat against Maccabi Tel Aviv ( 0-3 ), a side they had eliminated the year before. Dropping down to the Europa League they travelled yesterday to Kuopio to play KuPS, the Finnish Champions, and lost 0-2. Although KuPS were the better side, Tadic missed a great chance to equalise just under 30 minutes from the end, and who know what might have happened then………
Riteriai have now gone 14 league matches without a victory, and although they did beat Derry City in the Europa League ( 3-2 ), their limitations were exposed in the next round by Slovan Liberec with a 1-5 defeat in Vilnius. A routine win for Suduva should be expected on Sunday.
FK Zalgiris followed their disappointing result against Suduva with a further set-back, only drawing 2-2 at bottom of the table Riteriai after both sides had been reduced to ten men early on. In the Europa League they did progress to the Second Round after a 2-0 home win over Paide Linnameeskond from Estonia, but were then knocked out 1-3 by Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt. Sunday’s opposition FK Panevezys have taken only 2 points in their last 7 matches, and are unlikely to cause FK Zalgiris too much trouble.
Kauno Zalgiris have dragged themselves back into the fringes of the title challenge after 1-0 victories at Riteriai and Panevezys, to now sit 4 points behind Suduva but having played a game more. They have though since suffered a humiliating Europa League exit, also losing in Norway to Bodo/Glimt ( 1-6 ). A visit to fourth placed Banga Gargzdai, a side that doesn’t concede many goals will be tricky, but it is a must win game for Kauno if they are be serious title contenders.
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