In Lithuania’s A Lyga Round 29 clash, FA Šiauliai secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over bottom side DFK Dainava Alytus, thanks to goal led by August’s league MVP and overall top scorer, Eligijus Jankauskas.
Alytus, who shocked Hegelmann with a 1-0 away win on August 10 and then held FK Žalgiris to a draw in the following round, have since struggled, earning just one point from their last three matches. That poor run also included a crucial defeat to relegation rivals FK Riteriai. Facing Šiauliai was always going to be a tough assignment – especially as they had already lost the last two head-to-head meetings.
Dainava coach Orazov made no surprises in his starting lineup. Ukrainian goalkeeper Volodymyr Krynskyi kept his place between the posts, while Brazilian defender Daniel Alemao returned to the XI after scoring the vital equalizer last week against Džiugas Telšiai.
Meanwhile, Šiauliai boss Dainis Kazakevičius was looking for his team to bounce back after a narrow loss to FC Hegelmann. The return of two key figures certainly boosted their chances: top scorer Jankauskas was back after serving a one-match suspension, while Nojus Stankevičius, freshly called up to the national team, regained his spot in the starting eleven.
Šiauliai took control early, creating several dangerous opportunities. Jankauskas tested the keeper from a tight angle, but Krynskyi was well positioned. At the other end, Alytus nearly broke through when Ernestas Stočkūnas’s free-kick was heading for the top corner, only for goalkeeper Edvinas Baliutavičius to make a spectacular save. Gabrielius Micevičius then rattled the crossbar from distance as Šiauliai pressed for the opener.
The breakthrough came just before halftime. A swift counterattack saw Micevičius slide the ball into the box for the onrushing Jankauskas, who blasted it into the top corner to put Šiauliai ahead.
The second half started more balanced, but the match tilted decisively in the 73rd minute when substitute Juozas Lubas picked up two quick yellow cards, leaving Alytus down to ten men. Šiauliai immediately capitalized: from a set piece, Daniel Romanovskij delivered a pinpoint cross that Vytas Gašpuitis headed home for his second goal of the season.
Just four minutes later, the visitors sealed the result. A careless backheel pass by Anton Dudik in his own half gifted possession to Stankevičius, who surged forward, exchanged passes with Romanovskij, and calmly slotted the ball into the net – 3-0.
Although Alytus created a few chances to grab at least a consolation, they couldn’t find the net, and Šiauliai kept a clean sheet while returning to winning form.
With this victory, Šiauliai remain in tied for third place, level on points with FK Žalgiris and FK Sūduva, while Dainava stay rooted to the bottom of the table. Looking ahead, DFK Dainava Alytus will travel to FK Panevėžys in nearly two weeks, while Šiauliai face FK Riteriai next Saturday in another key matchup.
DFK Dainava Alytus vs FA Šiauliai – 0:3 (0:1)
Goals: Jankauskas 42′, Gašpuitis 81′, Stankevičius 85′
A Lyga Matchday 29:
- 19.09.2025 – DFK Dainava Alytus vs FA Šiauliai – 0:3
- 19.09.2025 – FK Riteriai vs FK Žalgiris – 0:2
- 21.09.2025 – FK Paņevežys vs FC Hegelmann – 17:00
- 21.09.2025 – FK Kauno Žalgiris vs FC Džiugas Telšiai – 17:00
- 21.09.2025 – FK Banga Gargždai vs FK Sūduva – 18:25
| # | Club | GP | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Kauno Žalgiris | 35 | 22 | 8 | 5 | 41 | 74 |
| 2 | Hegelmann FC | 35 | 20 | 4 | 11 | 12 | 64 |
| 3 | FK Žalgiris | 35 | 17 | 11 | 7 | 15 | 62 |
| 4 | FK Sūduva | 35 | 15 | 14 | 6 | 13 | 59 |
| 5 | FA Šiauliai | 35 | 14 | 9 | 12 | 6 | 51 |
| 6 | FK Panevėžys | 35 | 13 | 7 | 15 | 5 | 46 |
| 7 | FC Džiugas Telšiai | 35 | 13 | 6 | 16 | -8 | 45 |
| 8 | FK Banga Gargždai | 35 | 11 | 8 | 16 | 2 | 41 |
| 9 | FK Riteriai | 35 | 6 | 7 | 22 | -37 | 25 |
| 10 | DFK Dainava Alytus | 35 | 3 | 8 | 24 | -49 | 17 |
