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At Kaunas football manege on Friday the draw for the 2006 LFF Cup Round of 16 took place, dividing 10 teams from the "A League" and 6 teams from the "B League" into eight pairs. The first cup matches, officially starting the Lithuanian football season, will be played in just over a week.
Perhaps the most interesting pair brought together the defending champions "Kaunas" and the club from "Šiauliai". It is interesting that both of these teams met in the quarterfinals last season, where the Kaunas team secured victory with a goal scored in the last minute.
In the second match-up of "A League" clubs, "Šilutė" will face Kėdainiai's "Nevėžis". It will not be easy for Marijampolė's "Sūduva" either, as they will play against Alytus' "Alytis" who aspired to the top league. Meanwhile, Panevėžio "Ekranas" and Vilnius' "Vėtra" are likely to have no trouble facing Pakruojis' "Kruoja" and Jonava's "Lietuva" respectively.
The other three favorites will face reserve teams - Vilnius' "Žalgiris" will play against "Kauno Jėgeriai", Klaipėda's "Atlantas" will meet Vilnius' "Žalgiris-2", and "Vilnius" will compete against "Vėtra-2". The latter pair will start the matches on March 14th due to the training camp of "Vilnius" abroad, while all other first matches will take place on March 18-19.
After playing the return matches in a week, the winners of the eight pairs will advance to the LFF Cup quarterfinals. The draw for the quarterfinals will take place on March 27th at 13:00 at the same Kaunas football manege.
LFF Cup Round of 16 pairs (First match at the home of the team mentioned first)
1. Panevėžio "Ekranas" - Pakruojo "Kruoja" (First match on March 18, return match on the 26th) 2. FBK "Kaunas" - "Šiauliai" (March 18 and 26). 3. Marijampolės "Sūduva" - Alytaus "Alytis" (March 18 and 26). 4. "Šilutė" - Kėdainių "Nevėžis" (March 18 and 25). 5. Vilniaus "Vėtra" - Jonavos "Lietava" (March 17 and 25). 6. "Vilnius" - Vilniaus "Vėtra-2" (March 14 and 18). 7. Vilniaus "Žalgiris" - "Kauno Jėgeriai" (March 18 and 25). 8. Klaipėdos "Atlantas" - Vilniaus "Žalgiris-2" (March 19 and 25).
