FK Zalgiris 3-0 FK Suduva ( att : 0 )

November 14, 2020

The 6 team Lithuania A-Lyga season finally reached its completion with the final match determining the destination of the title.

The decisive match between FK Zalgiris and FK Suduva was originally scheduled to be played on October 31^st, but was postponed after a reported 19 cases of Covid in the Suduva camp. Suduva requested that the match be played over the weekend of November 21^st to allow their squad to recover and regain full fitness, but the Lithuanian FA decreed that the fixture was to be played on Saturday November 14^th to avoid any further delays to finishing the season from the worsening Covid situation in the country. However, as cases were continuing to increase in Lithuania, the LFA also stated that the match at the LFF stadium was to be played behind closed doors.

An added complication was the three matches in 8 days the Lithuanian National Team are playing around this date ( a friendly against the Faroe Islands and Nations League ties in Belarus and Kazakhstan ) with 4 Zalgiris players named in the squad ( keeper Gertmonas, defender Mikoliunas, and midfielders Simkus and Vorobjovas ). However, it was confirmed that the Zalgiris players would be free to play in the title decider.  

Zalgiris had easily won the previous league encounter in Vilnius 4-0, although Suduva got revenge of sorts by winning the Lithuanian Cup Semi-Final 2-1 after extra time in the LFF stadium. The two league matches in Marjampole had been a 1-1 draw and a 2-0 win to Suduva thanks to two headers from Bosnian Semir Kerla.

The requirements were simple. If Zalgaris won they would become champions. If they drew or lost, then Suduva would retain their title.

The game kicked off at 3pm local time, but the temperature had already dropped to just 3 degrees and it was a little misty. Zalgiris included their 4 internationals and they were supplemented by players from Croatia ( 3 ), France, Romania, Ghana and the Netherlands.

Suduva sprang a surprise by preferring 22 year old and former under 21 international Eligijus Jankaukas up front ahead of Croatian Josip Tadic, the league’s joint top scorer alongside Hugo Videmont of Zalgiris. Two other Lithuanians lined up along side Jankaukas in the Suduva side, veterans Klimavicius and Slavickas. The rest of the side consisted of  legionnaires from Austria ( 2 ), Croatia ( 2 ), Bosnia, Serbia, Argentina and the Ukraine.

Zalgiris got off to the start they would have been looking for, taking the lead in the 12^th minute. As Mikoliunas, the all time record holder for Lithuania with 89 caps, ran onto a reverse pass from Kyeremeh, a trip from Zivanovic sent him tumbling and referee Spasjonnikovas pointed to the spot. Videmont’s cheeky Panenka was his 12^th league goal of the season.

Matters got worse for Suduva four minutes later. Klimavicius completely missed his kick in trying to clear a low cross, the ball hit the unsuspecting Kerla on the chest, and in hurriedly trying to clear under pressure from Kyeremeh Kerla could only send the ball straight to Kaluderovic. The much travelled Croatian striker prodded home from 6 yards for his 4^th league goal since joining Zalgiris in August. 2-0

Suduva thought they had got back into the game in the 28^th minute, when Salamon ghosted in  at the far post to send Kerla’s cross past Gertmonas. However, it was immediately disallowed by the referee, although it wasn’t clear if it was for the slight push by Topcagic that sent Mikoliunas crashing to the floor, or if Topcagic was offside ( he could be deemed to have been interfering with play as he prevented Mikoliunas getting to challenge Salamon ) ? Or both…..

 Whatever the reason, it didn’t count, and Zalgiris should have extended their lead 7 minutes before half-time, Kyeremeh’s deft flick put Videmont clear, but Kardum bravely blocked the shot.

Despite the disallowed goal Zalgiris were deservedly leading at half-time. Tadic was brought on at the interval and whatever was said during the break certainly fired up Suduva as within a minute Gorobsov saw yellow for a dangerous tackle on Tatomirovic. For a brief moment it looked like it could have been a fourth consecutive red card in away matches for Suduva, and discipline has certainly been a huge problem for them, having been on the receiving end of 9 red cards in the season. Ukrainian midfielder Yefremov soon also joined Gorobsov in the referee’s note book after another rugged foul.

Kaluderovic found the net in the 55^th minutes, but he was clearly offside, and shortly after Suduva made their second substitution, Latvian forward Sabala entered the fray in place of Yefremov.

The game was put to bed 8 minutes later though, Videmont brushed aside the challenge of Kerla near halfway and ran clear to give Kardum no chance with his finish. Despite the game being played behind closed doors, a number of Zalgiris fans were watching behind the fences or in trees, and flares were released in celebration. As well as clinching the championship, the goal also ensured Videmont would win the golden boot with 13 goals for the season.

 Romanian midfielder Antal should have added a fourth but his flick when unmarked from 8 yards went over the bar, and then in the 72^nd minute Suduva’s day was summed up when Gertmonas fumbled Sabala’s long range effort onto the bar and the predator Tadic tapped home from close range. Unfortunately for him he was clearly offside. 

The last meaningful action occurred just over 10 minutes from the end, as Kaluderovic appeared well offside and most of the players stopped in anticipation of the flag and whistle. However, play continued and Kardum made a good save, which was just as well as the TV replay showed that Kaluderovic had timed his run perfectly.

The last 10 minutes were a bit of a non-event as the clocked ticked down, and a number of substitutions were made. The final whistle was the cue for the Zalgiris players to start celebrating wildly, and for fireworks to be set-off by their fans outside the stadium.

 

A first Lithuanian title for Belarussian ex-BATE coach Alexsei Baha and over the course of the season Zalgiris were probably deserved winners, with two thumping home wins over their nearest rival and averaging over 2 goals a game. Despite the admirable Kardum, Kerla and Tadic, Suduva are not an easy side for the neutral to warm to with their ill-discipline and sometimes overly cynical approach.

Zalgiris : Gertmonas – Mikoliunas, Tatomirovic, Ljubisavljevic, Slijngard – Simkus, Vorobjovas – Antal ( Vareika ), Kyeremeh ( Kuklys ), Videmont ( Karamarko ) – Kaluderovic ( Burba )

Suduva : Kardum – Kerla, Klimavicius, Zivanovic – Yefremov ( Sabala ), Salamon, Pusic, Gorobsov, Slavickas – Topcagic ( Tadic ), Jankauskas

 

Fatbear’s A-Lyga Team of the Season

Kardum ( Suduva ) – Mikoliunas ( Zalgiris ), Kerla ( Suduva ), Gaspuitis ( Panevezys ), Slijngard ( Zalgiris ) – Sirgedas ( Kauno ), Kyeremeh ( Zalgiris ), Pilibaitas ( Kauno ), Yoshikawa ( Banga ) – Tadic ( Suduva ), Videmont ( Zalgiris )