In Matchday 3 of the A Lyga, champions FK Žalgiris continued to drop points, playing to a 1-1 draw against Banga Gargždai. In another match, while Riteriai earned points for the second consecutive game against one of the title contenders.
FK Žalgiris has had a shaky start to the season, with only one narrow win and one draw. In contrast, their opponents, FK Banga Gargždai—defending champions of the Lithuanian Cup—began the season with one win and one loss.
Throughout the match, Žalgiris struggled to create dangerous opportunities inside the box, primarily taking long-range shots that missed or were easily saved by the goalkeeper.
The second half brought some success for Žalgiris when Yury Kendysh’s free kick from the left side was unfortunately redirected into his own goal by Banga’s Maksim Andrejev, resulting in an own goal.
Žalgiris had several golden opportunities to extend their lead. New signing Henrique Devens (formerly of TRANSinvest) created numerous excellent chances for his teammates, but they failed to capitalize on these opportunities, which cost them dearly. In the 84th minute, Nigerian midfielder Pamilerin Olugbogi received a pass on the left side, made a run, cut into the middle, and took a shot from the edge of the box. His attempt deflected off a Žalgiris defender, fooling goalkeeper Tordai as the ball found its way into the bottom corner. Olugbogi celebrated his first goal for his new team with a celebration reminiscent of Antonio Rudiger.
The final whistle blew, and FK Žalgiris played to a draw for the second straight match in the league. Their next match will be after the international break on March 30th against Dainava Alytus, while Banga will face FK Paņevežys on the same day.
FK Žalgiris vs FK Banga Gargždai – 1:1 (0:0)
Goals: Andrejev 60′ (Own goal) | Olugbogi 84′
Yellow Card: Kendysh 42′, Moutachy 82′ | Andrejev 36′, Simao 45+3′
ŽAL: Tordai – Pavilonis, Zahary, Kendysh – Moutachy, Verbickas, Matulevičius, Tavares – Fofana (Chol 64′), Devens (Maryzonok 88′), Hadji (Burba 80′)
BAN: Bertašius – Žebrauskas (Antužis 88′), Malžinskas, Simao, Figueredo – Norvilas (Praleika 64′), Ramanasuskas – Andrejev (Ambrazaitis 76′), Magdušauskas (Srebalius 88′), Olugbogi – Venckus (Emsis 64′)
In another A Lyga match, FK Riteriai managed to hold FK Kauno Žalgiris to a goalless 0-0 draw, thanks to the impressive goalkeeping of Gabriel Innocent.
The best chance of the game came in the 76th minute when experienced former Lithuanian international Fedor Černych’s close-range header was saved by the goalkeeper, who displayed remarkable reflexes.
FK Kauno Žalgiris, one of the pre-season favorites to win the league, has also struggled to start the season. After winning in Matchday 1 against Dainava Alytus, they have now dropped points in two consecutive matches, having lost at home to FC Džiugas Telšiai 1-2 last week.
Riteriai, meanwhile, have now earned two points with draws against both Žalgiris sides to start their season.
FK Riteriai vs FK Kauno Žalgiris – 0:0 (0:0)
Goals:
Yellow Card: Wawszczyk 22′, Stankevičius 40′ | Hernandez 64′
RIT: Innocent – Rutkovskis, Stankevičius, Hakansson (Šveistys 20′), Wawszczyk – Stanulevičius (Usavičius 63′) – Estevez, Mulahalilovic (Vlijter 63′), Rimpa (Kaulinis 63′), Sajčic (Civilka 14′) – Mikulenas
KAU: Mikelionis – Bah-Traore, Tolordava, Hernandez, Edokpolor – Naah (Sirgedas 66′), Pavlovic – Chogadze (Ourega 66′), Benchaib (Burdzilauskas 84′), Černych – Jansonas (Georgijevic 66′)
FC Hegelmann vs FA Šiaualiai – 1:0 (0:0)
Goals: Djoric 47′
Yellow Card: Mulder 7′, Kazlauskas 90+2′ | Micevičius 60′, Dapkus 79′, Petravičius 85′, Djokic 88′
HEG: Bražinskas – Upstas, Armalas, Djoric, Mulder – Kaušinis (Kazlauskas 62′), Antanavičius, Kojic (Slendoka 81′), Duke (Popescu 62′) – Njoya (Yusuf 70′), Ribeiro (Wesley 81′)
ŠIA: Baliutavičius – Mandic, Dapkus, Gaspuitis, Sadzoute – Micevičius (Petravičius 66′), Šimkus, Silva, Jankauskas – Klimavičius (Djokic 75′), Romanovskij (Komissarov 75′)
In other Matchday 3 results, FC Hegelmann handed Dainis Kazakevičs and FA Šiauliai their first defeat of the season, winning 1-0. The game-winning goal was scored by Serbian defender Nikola Djoric in the 49th minute, his header from an Esmilis Kaušinis cross beating the Šiauliai goalkeeper.
The last match of Matchday 3 saw FK Paņevežys achieve their first win of the season, defeating the previously unbeaten FK Sūduva 2-0. Serbian player Pavle Radunovic scored a brace in his first match of the season, leading Paņevežys and manager Roland Vrabec to their first victory.
FK Paņevežys vs FK Sūduva – 2:0 (0:0)
Goals: Radunovic 67′ (penalty kick) 78′
Yellow Card: Asante 9′, Vaicekauskas 58′, Januševskis 88′ | Sakurai 40′
PAN: Černiauskas – Rasimavičius, Dante, Klimavičius, Januševskis, Krasniqi – Asante (De Vega 68′), Vaicekauskas (Dzinga 90+2′), Koaudio – Radunovic (Smith 82′), Steponavičius (Veliulis 82′)
SUD: Plukas – Uzochukwu, Beneta, Zivanovic, Baltrunas – Sanokho (Lucky 67′), Lawson, Sakurai (Sabo 79′) – Stankevičius (zingertas 86′), Momoh (Lukšys 67′) – Petkevičius (Haidara 79′)
| # | Club | GP | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Hegelmann FC | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 18 |
| 2 | Kauno Žalgiris | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 15 |
| 3 | FC Džiugas Telšiai | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 15 |
| 4 | FK Sūduva | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | -1 | 14 |
| 5 | FA Šiauliai | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 12 |
| 6 | FK Žalgiris | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 12 |
| 7 | FK Riteriai | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 9 |
| 8 | FK Banga Gargždai | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 8 |
| 9 | FK Panevėžys | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 7 |
| 10 | DFK Dainava Alytus | 8 | 0 | 1 | 7 | -10 | 1 |