FK Sūduva moved to within a single point of Toplyga leaders FK Kauno Žalgiris and Džiugas Telšiai after a commanding 3-0 away victory over FK Banga Gargždai in Round 26.
Having failed to beat Banga in either of their previous two league meetings this season, Sūduva made the perfect start by opening the scoring in just the fifth minute. Sidy Sanokho produced an outstanding run down the left flank, beating his defender before cutting the ball back into the penalty area for Franklin Tangiri, who controlled well and calmly slotted home to make it 1-0.
The visitors doubled their advantage shortly before half-time. Following a corner kick, the ball was worked to the far side where Rati Grigalava immediately delivered another cross back into the box. Sanokho rose highest to power a header into the net, with the experienced midfielder celebrating his first league goal of the season.
Sūduva effectively sealed all three points early in the second half. A neat combination between Ibrahima Seck and Steve Lawson inside the penalty area ended with the Togolese midfielder firing a low effort through a crowd of players and into the bottom corner to extend the lead to 3-0.
Banga struggled to create meaningful attacking opportunities throughout the match. Their best chance came from a corner kick that almost curled directly into the net before a Sūduva defender cleared the ball. The hosts thought they had pulled one back late in the game after winning possession deep inside Sūduva’s half and finishing the move, but the referee ruled that a foul had been committed after tackling the ball away from Sūduva defender and the goal was disallowed.
The victory was Sūduva’s first over Banga this season after previously recording one draw and one defeat against the Gargždai side. The Marijampole club climb to third place on 36 points, just one behind joint leaders Kauno Žalgiris and Džiugas Telšiai. Despite the defeat, Banga remain sixth, although they are only four points adrift of the league leaders in an increasingly tight title race.
Both teams return to action next week. Banga face a difficult away trip to Žalgiris Vilnius next Sunday, while Sūduva travel to fellow title contenders Džiugas Telšiai a day later in a crucial clash near the top of the table.
FK Banga Gargždai vs FK Sūduva – 0-3 (0-2)
Goals: Tangiri 5′, Sanokho 45′, Lawson 54′
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Kauno Žalgiris |
21 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 40 | 15 | 25 | 37 |
| 2 |  Džiugas Telšiai |
23 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 34 | 27 | 7 | 37 |
| 3 |  FK Sūduva |
21 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 29 | 17 | 12 | 36 |
| 4 |  Transinvest |
22 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 32 | 29 | 3 | 35 |
| 5 |  FK Žalgiris |
21 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 33 | 24 | 9 | 34 |
| 6 |  FK Banga |
22 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 25 | 19 | 6 | 33 |
| 7 |  FC Hegelmann |
24 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 26 | 41 | -15 | 22 |
| 8 |  FK Panevėžys |
21 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 19 | 38 | -19 | 20 |
| 9 |  FA Šiauliai |
23 | 2 | 7 | 14 | 22 | 50 | -28 | 13 |
