A Review of the League: Led by the defender, "Žalgiris" increases its momentum again

2024-05-28 17:32 © Elvio Žaldario

“TOPsport A lygos” 15th round was much better for the visiting teams.

Defense. Vilnius district team “TransINVEST” celebrated victory after a series of unfortunate matches. Aurimas Tamaliunas' squad achieved a revenge and beat Marijampole's “Suduva” 1-0.

Debutants managed to keep a clean sheet for the second time this season and helped by adding to the lineup after a two-and-a-half-month break, Ričardas Šveikauskas.

Losses. Ahead of the upcoming match against Gargzdai's “Banga,” Marijampole's team will be affected by suspensions.

Due to disqualifications, three players will be unavailable for the next matches - Linas Zingertas, Maksymas Pyrohovas, and Ivan Zotko. Furthermore, after the break, Henry Uzochukwu was thrown into the game but suffered an injury after playing just a few minutes - the Nigerian legionnaire.

Changed places. Kaunas district team “Hegelmann” continues with a good series - they beat Telšiai's “Dziugas” 2-1 and rose to the 2nd place.

Andrius Skerla's coached players have 26 points in their account, trailing Vilnius team “Zalgiris” by 8 points.

Forward. In “TOPsport A lyga,” “Dziugas” rarely stands out with productive players - in 2021, Bulgarian Nasko Milev scored 11 times. He is the only player to reach the double-digit goal tally this season.

However, Dutchman Nino Noordanus seriously threatens Milev's result, as he has already sent the ball into the opponent's net five times before the halfway point of the championship.

Unremarkable. “Panevezys” and “Kauno Zalgiris” played a goalless draw, so the defending champions are in the last 10th place with 12 points.

Meanwhile, Zalgiris played out a draw in Panevezys for only the second time and has been winless in Panevezys for almost four years.

Strategist. On Tuesday, “Panevezys” introduced their new head coach, the 50-year-old Belgian Stijn Vreven.

Dainius Gleveckas, who temporarily held the coaching duties from 2022, led the team in three matches. During those games, the club failed to score a single goal and suffered two defeats.

Counterattacks. Alytus DFK “Dainava” stuck to their game plan and defeated “Banga” from Gargzdai 3-0 on the road. Sergej Kuznecov's squad shone during fast counterattacks and rose to the 5th place after the victory.

The representatives of Dzukija won for the first time in Gargzdai in “TOPsport A lyga” since 2011.

Opened up. This season, “Dainava” has had relatively few departures but lacks goal-scoring forwards.

The previous match was the most productive in 2024 where 19-year-old Danielis Misiunas scored the first goal in the Lithuanian championship. In total, the player has participated in seven matches in “TOPsport A lyga”.

Broke through. “Zalgiris” once again this season overturned a goal deficit, defeating “Siauliai” 2-1 away.

It was a rare win for Zalgiris in the city of the Sun, while the Siauliai team suffered as many defeats in one season as they did throughout the previous season - seven.

Most productive. In the sniper race - a tie. Left-back defender Joel Bopesu scored two goals in Siauliai and overtook “Kauno Zalgiris” forward Armandas Kucia.

In the previous three seasons of the Lithuanian championship, J. Bopesu did not score once, but in 2024, he sent the ball into the opponent's net six times and also made three assists.