A Lyga Round 20 Opener: Šiauliai get their first league win against Riteriai

FA Šiauliai kicked off the 20th round of Lithuania’s A Lyga with a convincing 2–0 away victory over FK Riteriai, claiming their first league win of the season against the Vilnius side.

FK Riteriai, whose last win came on June 19 — ironically a 1–0 triumph over FA Šiauliai — had since suffered three consecutive league defeats. Meanwhile, Šiauliai, still reeling from a painful second-half collapse in their previous match where they conceded four goals in a 2–5 loss to FC Hegelmann, were determined to get back on the winning track.

Riteriai’s lineup featured several changes, as numerous foreign players have recently left the club, while some new arrivals have joined. Among the newcomers, Croatian goalkeeper Antonio Tuta and Slovenian defender Marko Karamarko started in the lineup. Šiauliai, coached by Dainis Kazakevičs, made two changes compared to their last match: Portuguese midfielder Benny Silva, returning after nearly two months out, was fit to start, while Karolis Zebrauskas returned from a one-match suspension.

Riteriai had proven to be a tough opponent for Šiauliai in the league this season. While Šiauliai had one win in the Lithuanian Cup, their previous two league encounters ended in a draw and a Riteriai victory. This time, however, Kazakevičs’ men were determined to change the narrative — and they did.

Šiauliai opened the scoring in the first half after a quick throw-in caught Riteriai’s defense napping. Daniel Romanovskij — currently in superb form with 2 goals and 3 assists in his last three games — broke into the box from the left and delivered a pinpoint pass to Serbian striker Milan Djokić, who made no mistake, beating the Riteriai goalkeeper to net his fifth goal in the past four matches.

Šiauliai continued to push forward with purpose, though Riteriai had a moment of hope when their top scorer Meinardas Mikulėnas headed home from an Usavičius cross. Unfortunately for the home side, the goal was ruled out for offside.

The first half ended with Šiauliai holding a slim lead, but the second half delivered a major blow to Riteriai’s hopes. Defender Milanas Rutkovskis received a straight red card for a reckless last-man challenge on the lively Romanovskij, leaving Riteriai down to ten men.

Despite being a man down, Riteriai managed their first shot on target when Armandas Šveistrys tested Šiauliai goalkeeper Džiugas Baliutavičius from distance. For a moment, it seemed like the visitors had lost control, allowing Riteriai to take risks and expose gaps in the back. Still, Šiauliai weathered the storm and began hunting for a decisive second goal.

Riteriai’s new Croatian keeper made several good saves to keep his team alive, but in the 90th minute, he was finally beaten again. Eligijus Jankauskas’ relentless work ethic paid off — he stole the ball from a Riteriai defender and scored from close range, bagging his ninth goal of the season and fourth in the last three matches.

At the final whistle, Šiauliai celebrated their first league victory over bottom-placed FK Riteriai. With this win, Šiauliai are now chasing the top three, sitting just five points behind Sūduva and Hegelmann, while Riteriai remain clinging to ninth place in the league standings.

FK Riteriai vs FA Šiauliai – 0:2 (0:1)
Goals: Djokic 20′, Jankauskas 90′
RIT: Tuta, Latvys, Karamarko, Stanulevičius, Rutkovskis, Bulatovic, Fernandez, Šveistrys (Denilson 71′), Civilka (Rimpa 56′), Usavičius (Kaulinis 46′), Mikulenas
ŠIA: Baliutavičius, Mandic, Jarašus, Dapkus, Gaspuitis, Benny Silva (Komissarov 59′), Zebrauskas, Romanovskij, Jankauskas, Micevičius (Dovydaitis 78′), Djokic (Klimavičius 78′)

A Lyga Matchday Matchday 20:

• 11.07.2025 – FK Riteriai vs FA Šiauliai – 0:2
• 13.07.2025 – FC Džiugas Telšiai vs FK Banga Gargždai – 18:25
• 14.07.2025 – DFK Dainava Alytus vs FK Paņevežys – 20:00
• 07.08.2025 – FK Žalgiris vs FK Sūduva – 19:00
• 07.08.2025 – FK Kauno Žalgiris vs Hegelmann FC – 19:00