Panevėžys hit the frame thrice, concede late penalty against 10-man Sūduva

The A Lyga returned from the international break with a dramatic opening to Matchday 28, as FK Sūduva and FK Panevėžys played out a 1-1 draw in Marijampolė. Both sides will meet again in just four days in the Lithuanian Cup semi-final, but on Friday it was the hosts who salvaged a point at the death.

Panevėžys, who struck the woodwork three times and played the last 20 minutes with a man advantage, looked set for a vital victory in the race for the top three. However, a stoppage-time penalty from Steve Lawson rescued Sūduva and left the visitors ruing missed chances.

Panevėžys started brightly, with Salomon Kouadio rattling the crossbar inside the opening minutes. Their pressure paid off in the 21st minute when Elivelton burst down the left, squared for Rokas Rasimavičius, who in turn teed up Kwadwo Asamoah to score his second goal in as many games.

Asamoah later struck the post, while Kouadio also tested the woodwork again, but Panevėžys could not find a second. Sūduva’s best chance of the half fell to Amar Haidara, who fired wide after a defensive mistake from Lucas de Vega. Panevėžys continued to create openings and almost doubled their lead when Serbian striker Marko Bačanin was sent clear one-on-one, only to hit the post.

The game turned in the 72nd minute when Sūduva’s Lucky Tom was sent off following a VAR review for a high boot that caught Karolis Januševskij in the face. Despite going down to ten men, the hosts refused to surrender. Substitute Darius Stankevičius won a late penalty in the 89th minute, which Lawson calmly converted, sending goalkeeper Vytautas Černiauskas the wrong way.

The result means Panevėžys fail to close the gap on fifth-placed Žalgiris, while Sūduva maintain a three-point cushion over FA Šiauliai in the battle for European places.

The two sides meet again in midweek in the Lithuanian Cup semi-final, before resuming league action next Sunday: Sūduva travel to FK Banga Gargždai, while Panevėžys host FC Hegelmann.

FK Sūduva vs FK Paņevežys – 1:1 (0:1)
Goals: Lawson 90′ (Penalty Kick) | Asamoah 21′

A Lyga Matchday 28 resuts:

• 12.09.2025 – FK Sūduva vs FK Paņevežys – 1:1
• 12.09.2025 – FC Džiugas Telšiai vs DFK Dainava Alytus – 1:1
• 13.09.2025 – FK Banga Gargždai vs FK Žalgiris – 17:00
• 14.09.2025 – FK Kauno Žalgiris vs FK Riteriai – 16:00
• 14.09.2025 – FA Šiauliai vs FC Hegelmann – 18:25