Marijampolė Sūduva returned to the top of the Toplyga table after playing out a 0-0 draw against Vilnius Žalgiris in the central fixture of Matchday 31. The point moved Sūduva one point ahead of defending champions Kauno Žalgiris.
In a crucial encounter for both sides, the first major opportunity did not arrive until the 29th minute. Ernestas Stočkūnas did brilliantly to beat his opponent on the right before entering the penalty area and finding Ibrahima Seck in the middle. The midfielder met the pass first time, but his effort struck the post.
Žalgiris created their first clear chance six minutes later when Ukrainian striker Stanislav Bilenkyi met a cross with a header. His effort was well directed, but Sūduva goalkeeper Ignas Plūkas was well positioned and gathered the ball.
Sūduva thought they had taken the lead shortly before half-time. Following a corner, the ball dropped outside the penalty area to Henry Uzochukwu, whose shot found its way to Seck in front of goal. He controlled the ball and finished, but the assistant referee’s flag was raised for offside. The situation became even more costly for Sūduva as Uzochukwu suffered an injury while taking the initial shot and was unable to continue, forcing one of the team’s key players off before the break.
The game opened up considerably in the second half, with both teams repeatedly finding promising positions, although the two defences did well to block attempts and prevent clear-cut opportunities.
Both sides had chances to snatch the victory in stoppage time. Žalgiris won possession inside Sūduva’s half and Bilenkyi tried his luck from distance, but Plūkas dealt with the effort. At the other end, Sūduva worked the ball into the penalty area before Amadou Sabo got a shot away, only for Vincentas Šarkauskas to make the save and secure a point for the visitors.
Neither side could find a late breakthrough, leaving Sūduva with a point that was enough to take them back above Kauno Žalgiris and into first place in the Toplyga standings.
FK Sūduva vs FK Kauno Žalgiris – 0-0 (0-0)
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  FK Sūduva |
27 | 13 | 10 | 4 | 38 | 24 | 14 | 49 |
| 2 |  Kauno Žalgiris |
26 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 52 | 17 | 35 | 48 |
| 3 |  FK Žalgiris |
26 | 12 | 5 | 9 | 38 | 29 | 9 | 41 |
| 4 |  Transinvest |
26 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 37 | 34 | 3 | 39 |
| 5 |  FK Banga |
26 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 29 | 25 | 4 | 38 |
| 6 |  Džiugas Telšiai |
27 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 36 | 38 | -2 | 38 |
| 7 |  FK Panevėžys |
28 | 9 | 5 | 14 | 29 | 43 | -14 | 32 |
| 8 |  FC Hegelmann |
28 | 4 | 13 | 11 | 30 | 47 | -17 | 25 |
| 9 |  FA Šiauliai |
28 | 3 | 8 | 17 | 24 | 56 | -32 | 17 |
