For the first time this season, FK Panevėžys has strung together back-to-back wins in the Lithuanian top flight. With a resounding 3–0 victory over Vilnius-based FK Riteriai.
Panevėžys started the match with purpose, nearly taking the lead in the 19th minute when Faustas Steponavičius blasted a rebound over the bar. Just moments later, Pavle Radunović found himself through on goal, but his deflected shot drifted agonizingly close to the post.
The breakthrough finally came in the 39th minute. After Laurit Krasniqi’s initial header was expertly saved by 17-year-old goalkeeper Artiom Šankin, Ernestas Veliulis quickly recycled the loose ball and picked out Krasniqi again, who finished from close range to make it 1–0.
Just before halftime, Panevėžys doubled their advantage. Šankin attempted to intercept a cross but failed to gather the ball cleanly, allowing Salomon Kouadio to pounce and smash it into the net. A dominant first half saw Panevėžys enter the break with a deserved two-goal cushion.
Riteriai, who had scored just two goals in their previous four league games, struggled to find a spark. Their only real chance came in the 68th minute when Andrius Kaulinis unleashed a dangerous strike that deflected wide after coming close to testing Panevėžys goalkeeper Vytautas Černiauskas.
Panevėžys, meanwhile, looked the more likely side to extend the lead. Elivelton was inches away from connecting with a dangerous cross from Kwadwo Asamoah, while substitute Ariagner Smith was denied by a solid save from Šankin in the 85th minute.
However, Smith wouldn’t be denied twice. In stoppage time, Rokas Stanulevičius committed a foul inside his own penalty box, and the striker confidently stepped up to convert the spot-kick, sealing the final score at 3–0. It was Ariagner’s first league goal since November of 2023 when he scored against DFK Dainava Alytus in the Paņevežys title winning season.
This triumph in Matchday 12 of the TOPsport A Lyga sees Panevėžys climb to 6th place with 17 points, just one step behind the league’s top five. After collecting 10 points from their last five outings and keeping clean sheets in their last two, Roland Vrabec’s side is in its best form of the campaign so far.
Riteriai, on the other hand, are now winless in five across all competitions. Their attacking firepower, once among the league’s most threatening, has gone quiet. The absence of midfielder Armandas Šveistrys due to suspension didn’t help, and with just 10 points from 12 matches, they now sit ninth in the standings.
FK Paņevežys vs FK Riteriai – 3:0 (2:0)
Goals: Krasniqi 39′, Kouadio 44′, Smith 90+3′ (Penalty kick)
PAN: Černiauskas, Rasimavičius, Kerkez, Januševskis, Krasniqi, Veliulis (Asamoah 64′), Vaicekauskas (Džinga 86′), Steponavičius (Asante 64′), Koaudio, Radunovic (Smith 80′), De Vega (Elivelton 64′)
RIT: Šankin, Stewart (Rutkovskis 20′), Stankevičius (Civilka 66′), Hakansson, Wawszczyk (Aleksna 75′), Stanulevičius, Fernandez, Sajčic (Usavičius 75′), Mulahalilovic, Rimpa (Kaulinis 66′), Mikulenas
A Lyga Matchday 12 results:
- 16.05.2025 – DFK Dainava Alytus vs FK Sūduva – 0:3
- 17.05.2025 – FC Hegelmann vs FC Džiugas Telšiaia – 1:0
- 17.05.2025 – FK Paņevežys vs FK Riteriai – 3:0
- 17.05.2025 – FK Kauno Žalgiris vs FK Žalgiris – 17:25
- 18.05.2025 – FA Šiauliai vs FK Banga Gargždai – 16:00
| # | Club | GP | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Kauno Žalgiris | 15 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 18 | 31 |
| 2 | Hegelmann FC | 15 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 31 |
| 3 | FK Sūduva | 15 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 29 |
| 4 | FA Šiauliai | 15 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 25 |
| 5 | FC Džiugas Telšiai | 15 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 21 |
| 6 | FK Panevėžys | 15 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 19 |
| 7 | FK Žalgiris | 15 | 4 | 6 | 5 | -2 | 18 |
| 8 | FK Banga Gargždai | 15 | 5 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 18 |
| 9 | FK Riteriai | 15 | 2 | 4 | 9 | -12 | 10 |
| 10 | DFK Dainava Alytus | 15 | 0 | 4 | 11 | -20 | 4 |
