The 2026 Lithuanian football season officially began in Marijampolė, where league champions FK Kauno Žalgiris defeated Lithuanian Cup holders FK Panevėžys 1-0 in the Super Cup final. A first-half goal from Latvian striker Dāvis Ikaunieks proved decisive, as Kauno Žalgiris added the first Super Cup trophy in club history to their Toplyga title.
Head coach Eivinas Černiauskas placed his trust in continuity, naming nine players from last season’s championship-winning squad in the starting lineup, alongside two newcomers – Latvian forward Dāvis Ikaunieks and full-back Joris Moutachy, who joined from rivals FK Žalgiris.
Panevėžys manager Roland Vrabec opted for a more refreshed lineup, handing starting roles to six new signings. Joel Bopesu returned to Lithuanian football at left back, while Tunisian defender Rayane Mzoughi partnered the experienced Justinas Januševskis in central defense. The midfield featured Ernestas Burdzilauskas, Oleksandr Kurtsev, and Matas Ramanauskas, while Luxembourg international Edvin Muratović led the attack.
Panevėžys started the match more actively, applying high pressure that disrupted Kauno Žalgiris’ build-up play. However, the aggressive approach occasionally left space behind the defensive line, which the champions attempted to exploit with long balls and quick transitions. The first half was short on clear-cut chances, but it delivered the game’s decisive moment in the 23rd minute. Pressed near the corner flag, Moutachy managed to deliver a cross into the area, where Ikaunieks found space and redirected the ball into the net, scoring his first goal for the club and the opening goal of Lithuania’s 2026 season.
Panevėžys were forced into an early substitution when Mzoughi suffered a groin injury and was replaced by Strahinja Kerkez. Later in the half, they appeared to have equalized when Muratović headed home from a Rokas Rasimavičius cross, but VAR intervened, ruling that Muratović had pushed defender Anton Tolordava in the buildup, and the goal was disallowed.
The tempo increased significantly after the break. Isaac Asante tested Kauno goalkeeper Švedkauskas with a long-range effort, forcing his first save of the evening. At the other end, Amine Benchaib nearly doubled the lead following a rapid counterattack, but veteran goalkeeper Vytautas Černiauskas produced a strong stop. Panevėžys then applied sustained pressure, culminating in a dangerous corner where Salomon Kouadio headed toward the far corner, only for defender Edokpolor to clear the ball off the line.
Kauno Žalgiris made adjustments, introducing Motiejus Burba for the injured Fedor Černych and later bringing on Leo Ribeiro to refresh the attack. Vrabec responded with attacking substitutions, including Elivelto and Kwadwo Asamoah, and was later forced into another change after Rasimavičius suffered a knee injury. With time running out, Serbian forward Marko Bačanin was introduced as Panevėžys committed fully to attack.
Substitute Valdas Paulauskas nearly sealed the victory moments after entering the pitch, striking the crossbar from close range. In a tense stoppage-time finale marked by several bookings from referee Donatas Rumšas, Panevėžys pushed forward in search of an equalizer, including one final set piece opportunity. Kauno Žalgiris’ defense held firm, preserving the clean sheet and securing a historic Super Cup triumph to open the new season.
FK Kauno Žalgiris vs FK Panevežys 1-0 (1-0)
Goal: Ikaunieks 23′
KAU: Švedkauskas – Edokpolor, Hernandez, Tolordava, Moutachy – Pavlovic (Karashima 76′), Sirgedas – Ourega, Benchaib (Paulauskas 88′), Černych (Burba 46′) – Ikaunieks (Ribeiro 65′)
PAN: Černiauskas – Bopesu, Mzoughi (Kerkez 20′), Januševskis, Rasimanivičius (van den Bos 81′) – Ramanauskas – Burdzilauskas (Elivelto 65′), Kouadio, Asante (Bačanin 81′), Kurtsev (Asamoah 65′) – Muratovič
