A tough battle unfolded in Gargždai during the 18th round of the TOPsport A Lyga, where local side Banga hosted league leaders Kauno Žalgiris. After a scoreless first half, the visitors turned up the heat in the second period to secure a 2-0 victory, consolidating their position at the summit of the table.
The match began with an early scare for hosts in the 5th minute, when Amine Benchaib unleashed a powerful shot that goalkeeper Mantas Bertašius failed to catch. Although Dejan Georgijević followed up on the rebound and found the net, the goal was ruled out for offside. The 24th minute saw an unfortunate injury for the Kauno side as Fedor Černych was forced off, unable to continue.
As the first half drew to a close, the league leaders created significant pressure on Banga’s goal. After Gratas Sirgedas delivered a cross into the penalty area, Georgijević rose to head the ball, but Bertašius produced a stunning save to keep the scoreline level. Just past the hour mark, Benchaib threatened again with a dangerous shot, but his effort missed the target.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 73rd minute. After another precise assist from Sirgedas into the box, Anton Tolordava scored with a diving header past Bertašius, giving Žalgiris the lead. In the final moments, Fabien Ourega led a promising counterattack, setting up Benchaib with a chance that the Belgian failed to convert. However, Ourega himself sealed the win, capitalizing on a defensive error to double the lead and secure the three points for the visitors.
With this win, Kauno Žalgiris remain comfortably atop the league with 40 points, while Banga sit in 8th place with 21 points after 18 rounds of intense competition.
FK Banga Gargždai vs FK Kauno Žalgiris – 0:2 (0:0)
Goals: Tolordava 73′ Ourega 90+3′
BAN: Bertašius, Antužis, Simao, Victory (Norvilas 46′), Malžinskas, Ambrazaitis (Andrejev 81′), Ramanauskas, Figueredo, Magdušauskas, Srebalius (El Harmazi 81′), Venckus (Emsis 81′)
KAU: Svedkauskas, Bah-Traore, Hernandez, Tolordava, Edokpolor, Sirgedas, Pavlovic (Naah 81′), Ourega, Benchaib (Burdzilauskas 90+3′), Černych (Armanavičius 24′), Georgijevic (Jansonas 81′)
A Lyga Matchday Matchday 18:
- 29.06.2025 – FK Riteriai vs DFK Dainava Alytus – 0:2
- 29.06.2025 – FA Šiauliai vs FC Džiugas Telšiai – 5:0
- 29.06.2025 – FK Paņevežys vs FK Žalgiris – 2:4
- 30.06.2025 – FK Banga Gargždai vs FK Kauno Žalgiris – 0:2
- 30.06.2025 – FC Hegelmann vs FK Sūduva – 0:2
| # | Club | GP | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Kauno Žalgiris | 35 | 22 | 8 | 5 | 41 | 74 |
| 2 | Hegelmann FC | 35 | 20 | 4 | 11 | 12 | 64 |
| 3 | FK Žalgiris | 35 | 17 | 11 | 7 | 15 | 62 |
| 4 | FK Sūduva | 35 | 15 | 14 | 6 | 13 | 59 |
| 5 | FA Šiauliai | 35 | 14 | 9 | 12 | 6 | 51 |
| 6 | FK Panevėžys | 35 | 13 | 7 | 15 | 5 | 46 |
| 7 | FC Džiugas Telšiai | 35 | 13 | 6 | 16 | -8 | 45 |
| 8 | FK Banga Gargždai | 35 | 11 | 8 | 16 | 2 | 41 |
| 9 | FK Riteriai | 35 | 6 | 7 | 22 | -37 | 25 |
| 10 | DFK Dainava Alytus | 35 | 3 | 8 | 24 | -49 | 17 |
