Lithuania began their new UEFA Nations League campaign with a 2-0 victory over Liechtenstein in Vaduz. After a poor first-half performance, Edgaras Jankauskas’ side emerged with much greater intensity after the break, with Lukas Michelbrink scoring his first international goal before substitute Artūr Dolžnikov sealed the victory with a superb long-range strike.
Jankauskas made a surprising choice in goal, handing Džiugas Bartkus his first Lithuania start since March 2023. Kazakhstan-based defender Kipras Kažukolovas made his first national team appearance since June 2025, while Energie Cottbus midfielder Michelbrink was handed the first start of his international career.
Heavy favourites before kick-off, Lithuania immediately took control of possession. Justas Lasickas had the first attempt of the evening in the seventh minute, shooting over from distance, while the visitors also won several early corners without seriously troubling Liechtenstein.
The first real opportunity arrived in the 19th minute. Another Gvidas Gineitis corner eventually found Pijus Širvys, whose header was kept out by Liechtenstein goalkeeper Benjamin Büchel.
Despite dominating possession, Lithuania struggled badly to turn that control into chances. Liechtenstein offered their first warning after 29 minutes when Fabio Luque-Notaro created space for himself and fired powerfully from a tight angle, but his effort went wide.
The hosts came even closer shortly before half-time. Aron Sele tried his luck from distance in the 43rd minute and, despite Bartkus appearing to have the situation covered, the effort struck the woodwork. Lithuania went into the break having created little beyond the earlier Širvys opportunity.
Jankauskas reacted at half-time by replacing Modestas Vorobjovas with Kauno Žalgiris midfielder Motiejus Burba, and Lithuania immediately looked more dangerous. Michelbrink found Armandas Kučys inside the penalty area early in the second half, but the striker failed to make clean contact from a promising position and sent his effort over.
The visitors continued to pin Liechtenstein deep inside their own half and finally broke through in the 53rd minute. Buchel initially denied Burba before a defender cleared the rebound towards the edge of the area. Michelbrink collected the loose ball, drove into the box and worked his way past several defenders before finishing past Buchel to make it 1-0.
It was a memorable moment for the 21-year-old Berlin-born midfielder, who scored his first Lithuania goal on his sixth senior international appearance.
Liechtenstein were forced to become more adventurous after falling behind but were unable to seriously threaten Bartkus. Lithuania, meanwhile, introduced Adrian Lickūnas in the 62nd minute, with the 20-year-old Cremonese player replacing Širvys to make his senior international debut.
Four minutes later, Lithuania doubled their advantage through another substitute. Dolžnikov was given space outside the penalty area and took full advantage, producing a superb strike into the far top corner to make it 2-0.
It was Dolžnikov’s second goal for Lithuania, having previously scored against Latvia in the Baltic Cup in the summer of 2024.
Lithuania continued searching for a third, with Buchel called into action again to keep out a long-range effort from debutant Lickūnas, but there was no further change to the score.
The 2-0 victory gave Lithuania their first competitive win since March 2024, when they defeated Gibraltar in the Nations League play-offs. Jankauskas’ side will now return to Kaunas, where they face direct group rivals Azerbaijan at the Darius and Girėnas Stadium on Sunday.
Liechtenstain vs Lithuania – 0-2 (0-0)
Goals: Michelbrink 53′, Dolžnikov 66′
Next match:
Lithuania (h) Azerbaijan – September 27
