Šiauliai and Sūduva share the spoils in four-goal thriller

One of the final matches of the 17th round of the TOPsport A Lyga took place in Šiauliai, where the hosts FA Šiauliai faced off against Marijampolė’s Sūduva. In a match full of momentum swings, the teams shared the points with a 2–2 draw.

Both sides entered the match winless since the international break despite a strong run of form beforehand. Šiauliai had played out a draw against FK Žalgiris and then suffered a loss to Riteriai, while Sūduva—who had been just two points behind league leaders FK Kauno Žalgiris before the break—came into this match seven points adrift after two consecutive draws.

Šiauliai head coach Dainis Kazakevičs made a few adjustments from the previous match. 18-year-old Danielius Jarašius returned to the starting XI, along with national team midfielder Deividas Šesplaukis. Forward Eligijus Jankauskas, one of the team’s key attackers, was also back in the lineup after missing the last game.

Sūduva, meanwhile, made two changes. Starting goalkeeper Giedrius Zenkevičius was absent due to injury, making way for Ignas Plūkas, who had begun the season as the team’s first-choice keeper. Also returning to the lineup was midfielder Sidy Sanokho.

The last league meeting between these teams on April 19 had ended in a 1–1 draw.

The first notable chance came in the 22nd minute when Sūduva top-goalscorer Nauris Petkevičius threatened, but failed to hit the target. Moments later, Šiauliai’s Žygimantas Baltrūnas tested Plūkas with a powerful long-range effort. Around the half-hour mark, Sanokho forced another save from Baliutavičius. Šiauliai responded through Franklin Tangiri, who headed goalward after a delivery from Amaro Haidara, but the keeper caught it cleanly.

After a scoreless first half there was more to come in the second half and it happened fast as Šiauliai broke the deadlock in the 48th minute. After a well-timed pass behind the defense, Eligijus Jankauskas unselfishly squared it to Daniel Romanovskij, who scored from close range to put the home team ahead.

Sūduva responded in the 60th minute. Žygimantas Baltrūnas sent in a perfect cross, which the club captain Aleksandar Živanovič headed into the net to level the score.

In the 73rd minute, Sūduva took the lead when Henry Uzochukwu’s excellent pass found Nauris Petkevičius, who dove to head the ball past the goalkeeper for his side’s second goal.

However, the drama wasn’t over. In the 82nd minute, Šiauliai were awarded a penalty after Markas Beneta committed a foul in the box. Milan Djokic converted confidently from the spot to make it 2–2.

In the closing minutes, Steve Lawson picked out Lucky Tom, but the forward couldn’t convert his opportunity. Goalkeeper Baliutavičius had to step up again, saving a late header from Živanovic after a Petkevičius corner.

With this draw, Sūduva remain in third place with 31 points, while FA Šiauliai sit just below them in fourth with 26 points.

FA Šiauliai vs FK Sūduva – 2:2 (0:0)
Goals: Romanovskij 48′, Djokic 82′ (Penalty kick) | Zivanovič 60′, Petkevičius 73′
ŠIA: Baliutavičius, Mandic, Gaspuitis, Dapkus, Jarašius (Sadzoute 79′), Kubilinskas (Radavičius 79′), Zebrauskas, Petravičius (Komissarov 41′), Romanovskij, Šesplaukis (Djokic 66′), Jankauskas
SŪD: Plūkas, Beneta, Zivanovič, Stankevičius, Uzochukwu, Tangiri, Sakurai (Lawson 76′), Baltrunas, Sanokho (Lucky 82′), Haidara (Momoh 82′), Petkevičius

A Lyga Matchday 17 games:

• 24.06.2025 – FK Kauno Žalgiris vs FK Paņevežys – 3:0
• 24.06.2025 – FK Žalgiris vs FC Hegelmann– 0:1
• 24.06.2025 – DFK Dainava Alytus vs FK Banga Gargždai – 2:1
• 25.06.2025 – FC Džiugas Telšiai vs FK Riteriai – 2:1
• 25.06.2025 – FA Šiauliai vs FK Sūduva – 2:2