Kauno Žalgiris put on a show in front of 5,910 fans at the Darius and Girėnas Stadium, producing a convincing 3–0 victory over defending champions Vilnius Žalgiris in Saturday’s Žalgiris derby.
The hosts wasted no time in setting the tempo. Within the first 20 minutes, both Romualdas Jansonas and Temur Chogadze had already rattled the crossbar. The breakthrough came in the 23rd minute, when Fabien Ourega slipped the ball to Jansonas, who made no mistake in front of goal — his sixth goal of the season.
Three minutes later, Kauno Žalgiris doubled the lead as Chogadze’s effort took a fortunate deflection past Carlos Olses, highlighting the intensity and pressure the home side was putting on their rivals.
The second half followed the same script, with Kauno Žalgiris in full control. In the 57th minute, Dejan Georgijević finished off another fluid attack to make it 3–0. Vilnius Žalgiris had little response and were second-best in nearly every department throughout the match.
Despite missing Nosa Edokpolor due to suspension, Kauno Žalgiris’ attacking duo of Amine Benchaib and Romualdas Jansonas dictated the rhythm, helping the team to a fifth win in their last six games and once again catch up the top of the table teams Sūduva and Hegelmann in terms of points.
For Vilnius Žalgiris, this was a harsh setback. They had just broken a three-match losing streak but now sit in seventh place with just 15 points. Their away form remains a concern — only one win in five on the road this season — and this defeat marked their worst of the campaign so far.
To add to the intrigue, these teams will face off again soon — on May 20th in the Lithuanian Cup Round of 16, this time in Vilnius.
FK Kauno Žalgiris vs FK Žalgiris – 3:0 (2:0)
Goals: Jansonas 22′, Chogadze 26′, Georgijevic 57′
KAU: Švedkauskas, Bah-Traore, Tolordava, Hernandez, Jurjonas, Pavlovic (Naah 56′), Sirgedas (Armanavičius 78′), Ourega, Benchaib (Černych 85′), Chogadze (Paulauskas 78′), Jansonas (Georgijevic 56′)
ŽAL: Olses, Moutachy, Kendysh (Mihajlovic 82′), Pavilonis, Basila, Tavares, Salcinovic (Jarusevičius 46′), Ofori, Verbickas, Matyzonok (Hadji 46′), Henrique (Chol 82′)
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 – 3:0
- 18.05.2025 – FA Šiauliai vs FK Banga Gargždai – 16:00
| # | Club | GP | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Kauno Žalgiris | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 18 | 30 |
| 2 | Hegelmann FC | 14 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 30 |
| 3 | FK Sūduva | 14 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 28 |
| 4 | FA Šiauliai | 14 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 24 |
| 5 | FC Džiugas Telšiai | 14 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 20 |
| 6 | FK Panevėžys | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 18 |
| 7 | FK Žalgiris | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | -2 | 17 |
| 8 | FK Banga Gargždai | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | -5 | 15 |
| 9 | FK Riteriai | 14 | 2 | 4 | 8 | -11 | 10 |
| 10 | DFK Dainava Alytus | 14 | 0 | 3 | 11 | -20 | 3 |
