Riteriai again makes a comeback, Dainava winless streak reaches seven games

In the TOPsport A Lyga Matchday 7 matches, FK Riteriai demonstrated their character once again by coming back from a two-goal deficit to secure a 2:2 draw against FA Šiauliai. In another match, DFK Dainava remained winless this season after suffering a 1:3 defeat against FK Panevėžys.

Both teams entered this game on two-game winning streaks—Šiauliai had victories over Banga (2:1) and defending champions Žalgiris (2:0), while Riteriai had beaten FK Panevėžys (3:1) and FK Banga Gargždai (3:1). Šiauliai’s manager, Dainis Kazakevičs, made no changes to the starting lineup for this match, while Riteriai was without one of their key players, Nojus Stankevičius, who was suspended for reaching the yellow card limit.

Šiauliai opened the scoring in the 21st minute when Domantas Šimkus took a shot from long range, sending the ball into the top corner and surprising Riteriai goalkeeper Innocent, who was unable to save the impressive attempt. This marked Šimkus’s first A Lyga goal since June 2020, when he scored for FK Žalgiris against Banga Gargždai.

At the start of the second half, Milan Djokic doubled Šiauliai’s lead. However, Riteriai did not give up, as they have shown a strong fighting spirit this season. In the 62nd minute, Lazar Sajčič, from a similar location as Šimkus earlier, controlled the ball with his chest and struck a first-time volley into the top corner, reducing the deficit to 1:2 with 30 minutes remaining.

In the final moments of the match, Riteriai substitute Axel Galita was in the right place at the right time. After an unsuccessful clearance by a Šiauliai defender, the 19-year-old Frenchman seized the opportunity, and from around 11 meters out, he scored the equalizing goal.

As the final whistle blew, both teams’ winning streaks came to an end. Šiauliai will play against FK Sūduva in their next match on Saturday, while FK Riteriai will host FC Džiugas Telšiai on the same day.

FA Šiauliai vs FK Riteriai – 2:2 (1:0)
Goals: Šimkus 21′, Djokic 51′ | Sajcic 62′, Galita 87′
Yellow Card: Jarašius 26′, Mandic 45′ | Fernandez 45+2′, Hakansson 50′, Wawszczyk 76′, Civilka 90+4′
ŠIA: Baliutavičius – Mandic, Dapkus, Gaspitis, Jarašius – Silva (Zebrauskas 80′), Šimkus – Dovydaitis (Micevičius 42′), Romanovskij (Komissarov 80′), Jankauskas (Petravičius 57′) – Djokic
RIT: Innocent – Hakansson (Šveistrys 54′), Rutkovskis, Stanulevičius – Steward (Wawszczyk 46′), Rimpa (Usavičius 77′), Mulahalilovic (Civilka 85′), Sajcic (Galita 85′) – Fernandez, Mikulenas, Kaulinis

In the other match of the day, DFK Dainava Alytus took an early lead but suffered their fifth consecutive league loss, falling 1:3 to FK Panevėžys.

Dainava scored the opening goal in the 10th minute with a penalty kick converted by Artem Baftalovskyi. This marked the second straight game in which Dainava took the lead, but, similar to their previous match against Hegelmann, they could not maintain it. Just minutes later, Panevėžys’ Pavle Radunović and Salomon Kouadio scored back-to-back goals to put Panevėžys ahead.

In the second half, Panevėžys added an insurance goal when Ernestas Veliulis, who had provided two assists earlier in the match, also scored, bringing the score to 3:1. As a result of this win, Panevėžys ended their two-game losing streak, while Dainava remains the only team without a win this season, having recorded one draw and six defeats after the first seven games.

DFK Dainava Alytus vs FK Paņevežys – 1:3 (1:2)
Goals: Baftalovksyi 10′ (Penalty kick) | Radunovic 26′, Kouadio 27′, Veliulis 58′
Yellow Card: Paliusis 82′ | Steponavičius 47′, Vaičekauskas 66′
DAI: Mickevičius – Zabita, Litviakov, Paliušis, Chikovani – Koshkosh, Oostenbrink (Pavlovski 74′), Ževzikovas (Stočkunas 64′) – Baftalovskyi (Kodz 64′), Rakic, Hiruma (Mbaki 64′)
PAN: Černiauskas – Rasimavičius, Januševskis, Dante, Karvatskyi – Simon (Džinga 80′), Vaičekauskas (Krasniqi 90+2′), Kouadio, Veliulis (Asamoah 80′) – Steponavičius (Asante 73′), Radunovic