After five rounds in the Lithuanian Pirma lyga, the early title race has already begun to take shape. Only two teams remain perfect: Plungė’s Babrungas and Kretinga’s Minija, both collecting maximum points before the Easter break. Meanwhile, most league sides are now shifting focus toward the start of the Lithuanian Football Federation (LFF) Cup this weekend.
A Perfect Easter Gift
The reserve side of TransINVEST from the Vilnius district delivered the perfect Easter present to club founder and owner Vidmantas Pelėda, who celebrated his 80th birthday. The young squad (7 points) secured a 2–1 victory over the determined Atmosfera (9 points).
The hosts from Mažeikiai struck early in the 5th minute, but TransINVEST responded midway through the second half. However, their joy was short-lived, as 18-year-old midfielder Nojus Petkus quickly restored the visitors’ lead. The 190 cm tall prospect, who signed his first professional contract just a month ago, proved decisive once again.
Jonava Finds Momentum
After a slow start to the season, Jonava (7 points) recorded their second consecutive win, defeating Kauno Žalgiris B 3–1. All four goals came in a lively first half.
Jonava’s defense was anchored by Aidas Rybelis, a former captain of Kauno Žalgiris B who only recently left the club. Meanwhile, the Kaunas side, still without points, faces a rescheduled derby clash against Žalgiris Vilnius youth later this week.
Coaching Changes and First Defeats
Garliava (7 points), like Atmosfera, suffered their first defeat of the season. Without head coach Marius Bezykornovas, the team fell 0–2 away to Tauras Tauragė (9 points), with assistant Henrikas Grigas stepping in.
Tauras controlled the match and sealed the result within four minutes early in the second half, as Mantas Pikčiūnas (50’) and Jorge Eduardo (53’) both found the net in quick succession.
Meanwhile, major changes hit the Ekranas camp. After a disappointing start (0 points), the club parted ways with head coach Markus Palionis, who had been in charge since January 2025. Interestingly, last season he even stepped onto the pitch himself to help the team avoid relegation.
Under interim coach Darius Maciulevičius, Ekranas faced league leaders Minija (12 points) but fell short in a 1–2 defeat.
Babrungas Keeps Pace, Favorites Struggle
Minija’s closest challengers, Babrungas, remain right on their heels. The Plungė side secured their 12th point with a narrow 1–0 home victory over Neptūnas Klaipėda.
In a clash between two preseason favorites, the decisive moment came in the 73rd minute when Brayano Mosquera converted a penalty. Last season’s runners-up Neptūnas have struggled so far, collecting just 4 points from four matches and sitting near the bottom of the table.
Another underperforming side is Dainava Alytus. Relegated from the top division, they were held to a 0–0 draw by Vilnius BFA youth and currently sit 12th with only 2 points.
Dominant Wins and Derby Success
The most convincing victory of the round came from Žalgiris Vilnius B, who thrashed Šiauliai B 4–0 at home. Vakaris Bradūnas opened the scoring in the 5th minute, followed by goals from Gustas Jarusevičius and Vakaris Berenta before halftime.
With 6 points, the Vilnius side appears to have recovered from their heavy 0–4 opening defeat to Minija.
On Easter Sunday, Be1 NFA (7 points) celebrated a strong 3–0 win in the Kaunas regional derby against Hegelmann B. Brazilian forward Michael Thuique scored twice (31’, 80’), while 17-year-old Tomas Gudaitis added another goal in the 68th minute.
Gudaitis now has four goals this season, drawing level with Atmosfera’s Egidijus Gritkus at the top of the league’s scoring charts.
Source: https://1lyga.lt/5-asis-turas-pirmasis-atsistatydinimas-ir-geriausia-velyku-dovana/
