Toplyga Round 19 saw FK TransINVEST come from behind to defeat FA Šiauliai 3-1 away from home, with three unanswered goals earning the visitors an important victory that lifts them back into the league’s top three.
Šiauliai entered the match hoping to end a run of three consecutive league defeats and claim their first victory of the season against TransINVEST. Their previous two meetings had produced a draw before TransINVEST dominated the reverse fixture with a convincing 4-0 away victory.
The home side made the brighter start and created the first dangerous opportunity of the evening when, following a corner kick, Nedas Garbaliauskas met the delivery with a header that flew narrowly wide of the target.
TransINVEST responded with a long-range effort from Montenegrin striker Stefan Miloševic, but it was Šiauliai who broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute. Arvydas Novikovas produced an excellent through ball to release Artem Baftalovskyi into space. The Ukrainian attacker outmanoeuvred his marker, shifted the ball onto his left foot and calmly fired into the far corner to make it 1-0.
The lead, however, lasted only until the closing moments of the first half. Šiauliai were caught out defensively, allowing Japanese forward Hideyasu Tanaka to race clear through on goal before delicately chipping the advancing goalkeeper to restore parity.
The hosts nearly regained the lead before the interval when the lively Novikovas cut inside and unleashed a left-footed strike from around 18 metres, but his effort drifted just wide of the far post.
TransINVEST emerged from the dressing room determined to complete the turnaround. Just two minutes after the restart, Iker Bilbao forced Gustas Baliutavičius into a superb save with a powerful strike heading towards the corner. However, Šiauliai failed to clear the danger from the rebound, allowing Tanaka to react quickest inside the six-yard box and bundle home his second goal of the evening to put the visitors ahead.
With the momentum firmly on their side, TransINVEST continued to press and looked capable of extending their advantage. Šiauliai weathered that spell before gradually working their way back into the contest, with Artem Baftalovskyi and Daniel Romanovskij both threatening, only to be denied by a solid performance from goalkeeper Julius Virvila.
The decisive third goal arrived midway through the second half. A dangerous cross from the right caused panic inside the penalty area and defender Martynas Dapkus unfortunately diverted the ball into his own net, giving TransINVEST a commanding 3-1 lead.
Šiauliai attempted to respond by introducing several substitutes, including Latvian international Dāvis Ikaunieks, who made his second debut for the club after rejoining a few days ago.
The final whistle confirmed Šiauliai’s fourth consecutive league defeat, leaving them down in ninth place in the standings. TransINVEST, meanwhile, secured their second victory over Šiauliai in three meetings this season and climbed back into third place, sitting just one point behind joint league leaders Sūduva and Džiugas Telšiai.
FA Šiauliai vs FK TransIVNEST 1-3 (1-1)
Goals: Garbaliauskas 32′ | Tanaka 44′ 47′, Dapkus 62′ (Own goal)
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Džiugas Telšiai |
18 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 28 | 22 | 6 | 29 |
| 2 |  FK Sūduva |
18 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 21 | 16 | 5 | 29 |
| 3 |  Transinvest |
17 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 27 | 22 | 5 | 28 |
| 4 |  Kauno Žalgiris |
17 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 31 | 15 | 16 | 27 |
| 5 |  FK Banga |
18 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 19 | 13 | 6 | 27 |
| 6 |  FK Žalgiris |
18 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 24 | 21 | 3 | 25 |
| 7 |  FC Hegelmann |
18 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 19 | 28 | -9 | 18 |
| 8 |  FK Panevėžys |
18 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 17 | 33 | -16 | 18 |
| 9 |  FA Šiauliai |
18 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 18 | 34 | -16 | 13 |
