FK TransINVEST continued their impressive Toplyga campaign on Matchday 16 with a hard-fought 2-1 home victory over Hegelmann, moving into second place in the league table and closing the gap to leaders FK Kauno Žalgiris to just one point.
The home side controlled possession from the opening minutes and quickly found their breakthrough in the ninth minute. Xabi Auzmendi delivered an excellent pass behind the defence for Stefan Miloševic, who calmly finished past the goalkeeper to score his sixth league goal of the season.
TransINVEST continued looking dangerous and nearly doubled the lead shortly afterwards through the same combination, but this time Milošević fired over the crossbar.
Hegelmann slowly grew into the match and created their first serious moment through captain Vilius Armanavičius, whose long-range effort forced Mantas Bertašius into a comfortable save.
The second goal arrived in the 35th minute. After a cross from Bosnjak, Hideyasu Tanaka stretched to connect with the ball inside the box, with his touch looping high into the net to make it 2-0.
Despite controlling much of the match, TransINVEST made life difficult for themselves after halftime. A defensive mistake gifted Hegelmann a route back into the game and Vedad Radonja took full advantage, reducing the deficit and shifting momentum towards the visitors.
Hegelmann’s biggest chance to equalise came in the 70th minute when Abdel Kader Njoya burst into the box from the left side, but from a tight angle he was denied by an important save from Bertašius.
The TransINVEST goalkeeper again proved decisive later in the half when Armanavičius delivered a dangerous cross-shot towards the far corner, but Bertašius reacted brilliantly to keep the hosts in front.
TransINVEST ultimately held on for an important victory which lifts them into second place in the Toplyga standings. The club now sits only one point behind leaders FK Kauno Žalgiris, although the Kaunas side still have a game in hand ahead of the upcoming Žalgiris derby.
FK TransINVEST vs Hegelmann – 2-1 (2-0)
Goals: Miloševic 9′, Tanaka 35′ | Radonja 62′
Meanwhile, the evening’s second match went ahead despite reports earlier in the day suggesting it was under threat due to internal disagreements and financial issues surrounding Riteriai.
On the pitch, however, Sūduva showed little mercy in a convincing 3-0 away victory.
Former Riteriai player Meinardas Mikulėnas opened the scoring against his old club before Faustas Steponavičius added a second. Tom Lucky sealed the result late on as the visitors comfortably secured all three points.
The victory moves Sūduva up to fourth place in the table with 25 points, now only four behind league leaders FK Kauno Žalgiris in what is becoming an increasingly tight title race near the top of the Toplyga standings.
FK Riteriai vs FK Sūduva – 0-3 (0-2)
Goals: Mikulenas 17′, Steponavičius 45+1′, Lucky 77′
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Džiugas Telšiai |
16 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 25 | 16 | 9 | 30 |
| 2 |  Kauno Žalgiris |
15 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 34 | 12 | 22 | 29 |
| 3 |  Transinvest |
16 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 29 | 18 | 11 | 28 |
| 4 |  FK Sūduva |
16 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 23 | 13 | 10 | 25 |
| 5 |  FK Banga |
16 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 22 | 13 | 9 | 23 |
| 6 |  FK Žalgiris |
15 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 20 | 18 | 2 | 19 |
| 7 |  FK Panevėžys |
15 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 25 | -11 | 18 |
| 8 |  FC Hegelmann |
16 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 17 | 24 | -7 | 17 |
| 9 |  FA Šiauliai |
16 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 14 | 23 | -9 | 17 |
| 10 |  FK Riteriai |
15 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 39 | -36 | 3 |
