Riteriai and Banga play a draw against each other for the first time this season

In the 34th round of Lithuania’s A Lyga, FK Banga Gargždai fought back from an early deficit on the road but were unable to hold onto their lead, settling for their first draw of the season against FK Riteriai – 2-2.

After back-to-back victories, Riteriai were aiming for a third straight win, which would have guaranteed them at least ninth place and effectively confirmed DFK Dainava Alytus’ relegation from the top flight. Meanwhile, Banga entered the match with hopes of continuing their unbeaten October run and keeping alive a slim chance of climbing as high as sixth if they won all remaining fixtures.

Banga’s head coach made a notable change to his lineup, handing a first league start of the season to 36-year-old goalkeeper Armantas Vitkauskas – who, fittingly, spent the previous four seasons as Riteriai’s first-choice keeper and helped them win promotion from Pirma Lyga last year.

The visitors nearly struck first early on when Vaidas Magdušauskas missed a golden opportunity, sending the ball wide from a great position. Moments later, Riteriai punished that wastefulness. A fine cross from Marko Karamarko found Meinardas Mikulėnas unmarked at the far post, and the young Lithuanian forward made no mistake, scoring his ninth goal of the season to make it 1-0.

Banga regrouped after the early setback and began to find their rhythm in the latter stages of the first half. From a set-piece situation, Deividas Malžinskas’ initial effort was saved by Croatian goalkeeper Tuta, but Ignas Venckus reacted quickest to the rebound, firing home to equalize – his second goal in as many matches.

Buoyed by the goal, Banga completed the turnaround before halftime. After some neat passing in attack, Rokas Filipavičius once again provided the assist, delivering a low cross that slipped through the defense and reached Pijus Srebalius at the far post. The substitute – who had come on for the injured Magdušauskas – calmly slotted in his second goal of the season, giving Banga a 2-1 lead.

In the second half, Riteriai fought back. A swift counterattack ended with Mikulėnas testing Vitkauskas, whose save unfortunately fell straight to substitute Denilson, and the Brazilian forward buried the rebound to level the score at 2-2 – also his second goal of the season.

Neither side could find a winner in the closing stages, as both teams shared the points for the first time this campaign. The draw leaves Riteriai eight points clear of bottom-placed Dainava Alytus with two matches remaining. If Dainava fail to beat FC Hegelmann tomorrow, Riteriai will be mathematically safe in at least ninth place.

Banga, sitting comfortably in eighth, cannot drop any lower but trail seventh-placed FC Džiugas Telšiai by four points. Riteriai now face two away games to close their season – against Džiugas Telšiai and Dainava Alytus – while Banga will host Dainava before ending their campaign on the road against newly crowned champions FK Kauno Žalgiris.

FK Riteriai vs FK Banga Gargždai – 2:2 (1:2)
Goals: Mikulenas 4′, Denilson 59′ | Venckus 26′, Srebalius 40′

A Lyga Matchday 33:

• 26.10.2025 – FK Riteriai vs FK Banga Gargždai – 2:2
• 26.10.2025 – FC Džiugas Telšiai vs FK Paņevežys – 16:00
• 26.10.2025 – FK Žalgiris vs FA Šiauliai – 18:25
• 27.10.2025 – DFK Dainava Alytus vs FC Hegelmann – 19:00
• 27.10.2025 – FK Sūduva vs FK Kauno Žalgiris – 19:00