Banga stun FA Šiauliai to end winless run and deal a blow to their top-three hopes

In the opening fixture of Matchday 33 in Lithuania’s A Lyga, FK Banga Gargždai scored three times in the second half to claim a 3-1 away win over FA Šiauliai – a result that leaves Šiauliai’s hopes of finishing in the top three and qualifying for European competition hanging by a thread.

FA Šiauliai came into the game on a two-match winless streak, having lost last time out to newly crowned champions FK Kauno Žalgiris. Meanwhile, Banga – without a victory since August 24 – were desperate to end their six-game drought.

Dainis Kazakevičs’s side welcomed back two key players: defender Marko Mandić returned from suspension, while league assist leader Daniel Romanovskij also rejoined the lineup. On the opposite bench, Portuguese coach David Afonso made just one change, bringing in Rokas Filipavičius, who had scored in the previous match, into the starting eleven.

The first half was a cautious affair. Banga threatened mainly from distance, while Šiauliai struggled to impose themselves early on. After surviving a few nervous moments, the hosts gradually took control, but without reward – their best chance fell to Ignas Venckus, who somehow failed to hit the target from close range.

The visitors made them pay after the break. Following a cross from Filipavičius, Šiauliai defender Vytas Gašpuitis failed to clear his lines, and Venckus reacted quickest to slot home from inside the box – his fifth goal of the season.

Just minutes later, Banga doubled their lead. After a turnover in Šiauliai’s half, a cross from the right reached Nigerian forward Pamilerin Olugbogi, who unleashed a powerful strike off the underside of the crossbar and in to make it 2-0.

Šiauliai pushed forward desperately in search of a comeback, finally finding the net in stoppage time through Gustas Micevičius, whose long-range effort beat Mantas Bertašius in goal. However, any hopes of a late rescue were extinguished moments later when substitute Sherwin Seedorf won the ball deep in his own half, sprinted the length of the pitch, and showed great composure to slot past Baliutavičius, sealing a 3-1 victory and ending Banga’s six-match winless streak.

With this result, Banga Gargždai move within five points of seventh-placed FC Džiugas Telšiai, while FA Šiauliai’s European ambitions fade further – now trailing FK Žalgiris by three points, with the Vilnius side still holding a game in hand.

Next up, Šiauliai will visit former champions FK Žalgiris on Sunday in a crucial A Lyga Round 34 clash, while Banga Gargždai travel to face FK Riteriai.

FA Šiauliai vs FK Banga Gargždai – 1:3 (0:0)
Goals: Micevičius 90+3′ | Venckus 58′, Olugbogi 64′, Seedorf 90+4′

A Lyga Matchday 32:

• 22.10.2025 – FA Šiauliai vs FK Banga Gargždai – 1:3
• 22.10.2025 – FK Paņevežys vs FK Riteriai – 19:00
• 22.10.2025- FK Kauno Žalgiris vs FK Žalgiris – 19:00
• 23.10.2025 – FC Hegelmann vs FC Džiugas Telšiai – 18:30
• 23.10.2025 – FK Sūduva vs DFK Dainava Alytus – 19:00