Džiugas Telšiai twice took the lead but could not hold on at home against FC Hegelmann in the closing game of Toplyga Matchday 29, settling for a 2-2 draw and missing the opportunity to move up to second place in the table.
The fourth and final meeting between the two sides this season was another closely fought encounter. Two of their four meetings have now ended in draws, while Džiugas’ only victory over Hegelmann came on May 1, when Ronald Sobowale scored twice in a convincing 3-0 win.
The hosts made the perfect start, taking the lead after just five minutes. Deitonas Vinckus picked the ball off a Hegelmann defender in the middle of the pitch and immediately noticed that goalkeeper’s position was too far from his line. He needed no second invitation, sending a long-range effort over the scrambling goalkeeper and into the net.
Džiugas were forced into an early change later in the first half when Milanas Rutkovskis, making his first start since joining the club from the disqualified Riteriai, was forced off with an injury. Argentine Iker Scotto came on in his place.
The very own Scotto nearly doubled the hosts’ advantage before the break, but his header from a superb cross from the right drifted narrowly wide. Hegelmann struggled to seriously threaten the Džiugas defence in the opening 45 minutes, with the hosts taking their slender lead into half-time.
The game changed after the break as in the 53rd minute, Hegelmann’s Swedish striker Darrell Tibell finally opened his account for the club. Having failed to score in his first 18 league appearances for Hegelmann, Tibell ended the wait after a quick throw-in caught the Džiugas defence off guard.
The forward found himself unmarked inside the penalty area, showed composure to work the ball onto his right foot and fired home Hegelmann’s first shot on target of the match to make it 1-1.
With neither side able to create much of significance afterwards, it looked increasingly likely that the points would be shared. But Džiugas’ top scorer Ronald Sobowale had other ideas.
The English striker had scored in each of Džiugas’ previous three meetings with Hegelmann this season, and he extended that remarkable record in the 86th minute. Receiving the ball inside the penalty area with his back to goal, Sobowale turned his marker and fired into the net for his fifth goal against Hegelmann this season and ninth of the campaign.
The goal appeared to have put Džiugas on course for a victory that would have lifted them into second place. Hegelmann, however, responded almost immediately, and Tibell was once again at the centre of it.
Just two minutes after Sobowale’s goal, another quick throw-in caused problems inside the Džiugas penalty area. The ball bounced around dangerously before Samuel Oum Gouet managed to get a shot away. Tibell was perfectly positioned to get a touch on the effort, changing its direction and sending it into the net to make it 2-2.
Neither side could find a winner, meaning three of the four meetings between the teams this season have now ended level.
The draw leaves Džiugas in fourth place with 38 points from 26 matches, one point behind second-placed Kauno Žalgiris and third-placed TransINVEST. Hegelmann remain eighth with 24 points from 26 games.
FC Džiugas Telšiai vs FC Hegelmann – 2-2 (1-0)
Goals: Vinckus 5′, Sobowale 86′ | Tibell 53′ 88′
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  FK Sūduva |
24 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 35 | 18 | 17 | 45 |
| 2 |  Kauno Žalgiris |
23 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 41 | 16 | 25 | 39 |
| 3 |  Transinvest |
25 | 11 | 6 | 8 | 36 | 32 | 4 | 39 |
| 4 |  FK Banga |
25 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 29 | 22 | 7 | 38 |
| 5 |  Džiugas Telšiai |
26 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 36 | 33 | 3 | 38 |
| 6 |  FK Žalgiris |
24 | 11 | 4 | 9 | 37 | 29 | 8 | 37 |
| 7 |  FK Panevėžys |
25 | 7 | 5 | 13 | 23 | 41 | -18 | 26 |
| 8 |  FC Hegelmann |
26 | 4 | 12 | 10 | 29 | 44 | -15 | 24 |
| 9 |  FA Šiauliai |
26 | 3 | 7 | 16 | 24 | 55 | -31 | 16 |
