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In the Lithuanian "A Lyga" championship, there were three matches on Saturday, all of which ended with the home teams winning. In the earlier match, "Sūduva" snatched a victory against "Vilnius", while "Žalgiris" and "Kaunas" defeated "Šiauliai" and "Šilutė" teams on their own grounds.
In Marijampolė, "Sūduva" faced "Vilnius" and despite missing several chances to score, managed to break through after an hour with a penalty kick by David Čigladze. However, the Georgian later received a red card and Vilnius equalized the score through Ronaldo after taking advantage of their numerical superiority. Yet a few minutes before the end of the match, T.Miklinevičius secured the third consecutive victory for "Sūduva" with a long-range shot, allowing Marijampole's team to temporarily climb to third place in the league standings.
There was much less intrigue in Kaunas, where the local team easily defeated the absolute league underdog "Šilutė". Among the ranks of the country's vice-champions debuted Brazilian midfielder Rafael and loaned Lithuanians Kazimieras Gnedojus and Andrius Bartkus from "Atlantas". The most productive player of the championship Andrius Velička scored two goals for the Lithuanian champions, while Bosnian Edin Pehličius and Ričardas Beniušis added one each. This 20th season win allowed "Kaunas" to increase their lead over second-placed "Ekranas" by 24 points, with their match against "Atlantas" scheduled for Sunday.
Vilnius "Žalgiris" secured their second home win of the season by defeating the "Šiauliai" team. Legionnaire from Moldova, Iulian Bursuc, put Žalgiris ahead with a penalty kick in the 23rd minute, and later won another penalty, which was converted by Mirijan Choruži to double the lead for the hosts. The visitors' efforts to break through the Žalgiris defense were in vain, and they only managed to score a consolation goal towards the end of the match by inadvertently scoring into their own net by Vilnius defender Marijus Krukovskis.
Statistics of the 22nd round matches on Saturday
Referee - Audrius Žuta Marijampolė City Stadium, 1550 spectators 2 - 1 ([More]) 61' [1 - 0] Davit Čigladze (pen.) 83' [1 - 1] Rinaldo Neto 87' [2 - 1] Tomas Miklinevičius 73' D.Čigladze ("Sūduva") sent off
"Sūduva": S.Klevinskas; Mikuckis, Grigas, D.Čigladze; Urbšys (70' G.Slavickas), Maciulevičius (13' Osipovič), Miklinevičius, Mačiulis, V.Slavickas; Abramenko, Braga (78' G.Klevinskas).
"Vilnius": Semež; Grudzinskas, Artiomovas, Lukša; Radavičius (79' Papšys) Barbosa (57' Mrowiec), Everton, Juca, Paulinho (74' Rinaldo); Muller, Wasiu.
Vilnius "Žalgiris" Stadium, 680 spectators Referee - Gediminas Mažeika 2 - 1 ([More]) 23' [1 - 0] Iulian Bursuc 35' [2 - 0] Mirijan Choruži (pen.) 89' [2 - 1] Marijus Krukovskis (own goal)
"Žalgiris": Šetkus; Choruži, I.Steško, Miliškevičius, Krukovski; Lemežis (81' Vilėniškis), Poderis, Ostap, Bursuc; Morinas, Mižigurskis (65' Puotkalis)
"Šiauliai": Lukovičs; Oriol, Lunskis, Milevsky, Atigbiolaye; Afanasenko (86' Viktoravičius), Galyuza, Juodeikis, A.Šidlauskas; Ščekotilin (67' Monakov), Butavičius
Kaunas S. Darius and S. Girėnas Stadium, 300 spectators Referee - Gintaras Monkus 4 - 0 37' [1 - 0] Andrius Velička (pen.) 43' [2 - 0] Edin Pehlič 45' [3 - 0] Andrius Velička 79' [4 - 0] Ričardas Beniušis
"Kaunas": Malinauskas; Kančelskis, Bagužis, Gnedojus, Radžius; Manchkava, Bartkus, Barevičius, Pehlič (52' Beniušis); Velička (46' Juška), Rafael (46' Pilibaitis)
"Šilutė": L.Vertelis (46' Kilijonas); Pancerovas, Butkus, Grigas, Žigutis; Gražys, Vyšniauskas, Fattakhov (51' Marozas), Jemeljanovas; Podelis (72' Nesterenko), Grigalevičius
League table
