Lithuania delivered a dominant performance at the Darius and Girėnas stadium on Wednesday evening, defeating Andorra 3-0 in their international fixture through goals from Manfredas Ruzgis, Faustas Steponavičius and late substitute Armandas Kučys.
The hosts entered the fixture seeking to maintain their record against Andorra, having scored at least three goals in all three previous meetings between the sides. Andorra arrived in Kaunas looking for a spark, having last won a competitive fixture in September 2022 against Liechtenstein.
Lithuania starting XI: Tomas Švedkauskas (GK), Deividas Malžinskas, Rokas Lekiatas, Kipras Kažukolovas, Motiejus Burba, Domantas Šluta, Modestas Vorobjovas (C), Žygimantas Baltrūnas, Faustas Steponavičius, Eligijus Jankauskas, Manfredas Ruzgis.
Substitutes: Džiugas Bartkus (GK), Lukas Paukštė (GK), Artūr Dolžnikov, Vykintas Slivka, Ignas Venckus, Vilius Armalas, Adrian Lickūnas, Lukas Michelbrink, Justas Lasickas, Armandas Kučys, Artemijus Tutyškinas, Edgaras Utkus, Gvidas Gineitis.
Head coach: Edgaras Jankauskas
Andorra starting XI: Alex Ruiz (GK), Marc García (C), Francisco Pomares, Christian García, Max Llovera, Éric Vales, Éric Izquierdo, Alexandre Martínez, Jesús Rubio, Jordi Aláez, Ricard Fernández.
Substitutes: Josep Gómes (GK), Iker Álvarez (GK), Biel Borra Font, Moisés San Nicolás, Izan Fernández, Ian Bryan Olivera, Aron Rodrigo, Guillaume Lopez, Joáo Teixeira, Ot Remolins Planes, Albert Rosas.
Head coach: Koldo
0′ Kickoff
Kickoff in Kaunas. The match gets underway at the Darius and Girėnas stadium.
4′ Motiejus Burba controls a throw-in in the Andorran third and passes to Domantas Šluta. Šluta cuts the ball back slightly to Faustas Steponavičius, who lays it off to Manfredas Ruzgis, but his first-time shot from just outside the penalty box goes wide.
13′ Eligijus Jankauskas goes on an impressive solo run down the wing, beating his marker on the flank. He attempts a curling effort towards the top right corner from well outside the penalty box, striking the right post.
17′ Burba keeps the ball in play in the Andorran half and Ruzgis heads it down to Steponavičius. Steponavičius drives into the penalty area and cuts back for Ruzgis, whose initial effort is blocked. The rebound falls to Šluta on the edge of the penalty box, but his struck shot is saved by the goalkeeper and pushed wide for a Lithuania corner.
18′ Jankauskas delivers a well-weighted cross into the penalty area to find Ruzgis unmarked. However, the forward fails to make a clean strike on the ball.
20′ Penalty awarded to Lithuania. Deividas Malžinskas attempts to cross into the center of the penalty box, with the ball striking the arm of the Andorran captain inside the box to concede a clear handball.
21′ GOAL – Lithuania 1-0 Andorra (Manfredas Ruzgis)
Manfredas Ruzgis converts from the spot, sending a low shot down the middle as the keeper dives the wrong way. It marks his first goal in a Lithuanian shirt.
25′ Modestas Vorobjovas plays a direct low through ball vertically to Burba on the right wing. Burba drives forward and crosses towards Ruzgis, forcing Christian García to intervene with a clearance that almost results in an own goal from close range.
27′ GOAL – Lithuania 2-0 Andorra (Faustas Steponavičius)
Rokas Lekiatas finds Jankauskas on the left wing, who controls expertly before delivering a precise cross. Faustas Steponavičius finishes cleanly from close range for his debut international goal.
41′ Burba attempts a long-range shot from a narrow angle inside the penalty box. The Andorran goalkeeper reacts well to tip the ball wide for a corner.
45+1′ Burba delivers a late cross into the penalty area. Jankauskas fights hard under pressure to reach the ball, but his strike flies just wide of the target.
Half-time Review
Lithuania produced a dominant first-half performance, controlling all statistical metrics and restricting Andorra from advancing into the home half. Andorra had an early appeal for a penalty turned down in the opening five minutes, before Jankauskas had a similar claim dismissed at the other end as the referee maintained a consistent standard. Lithuania lead 2-0 at the break through a converted penalty by Ruzgis and a close-range finish from Steponavičius following Jankauskas’s cross.
89′ Andorra register their first shot of the match following a corner kick. The attempt through a crowded penalty box flies wide of the target.
90+2′ Goalkeeper Tomas Švedkauskas clears long, with Lukas Michelbrink winning the aerial duel to send the ball forward. Armandas Kučys possibly provides a subtle touch to release Artūr Dolžnikov on a solo run, but the winger overplays the ball inside the penalty area.
90+3′ Vykintas Slivka swings in a dangerous cross from the right wing. Central forward Ignas Venckus is unable to connect with the delivery. Most dangerous chance in the second half yet.
90+3′ GOAL – Lithuania 3-0 Andorra (Armandas Kučys)
Justas Lasickas finds Kučys near the edge of the penalty box with a precise pass. Kučys skips past his defender and places a controlled finish into the far corner.
Full-time Review
Lithuania controlled an uneventful second half to secure a comfortable victory in Kaunas. The hosts finished the match with 64 percent ball possession, nine corners to Andorra’s one, and completed three times as many passes as their opponents. The result marks Lithuania’s first victory by three or more goals since beating Armenia in 2011, while also being the first time the national team scored three goals in a fixture since facing Estonia in 2020.
