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Today, at the Kaunas artificial turf stadium, the return matches of the LFF Cup round of 16 were played by "Kauno jėgeriai" and Vilnius "Žalgiris" as well as Alytus "Alytis" and Marijampolė "Sūduva". In the first match, the capital's club won with a score of 2-0, while the second match ended goalless, resulting in both "A Lyga" teams advancing to the quarterfinals of the tournament.
Kaunas artificial turf stadium, 200 spectators Referee - Marijus Jazbutis "Kauno jėgeriai" 0 - 2 Vilnius "Žalgiris" (First match 0-2, total score 0-4) 70` [0 - 1] Artūras Žekonis 89` [0 - 2] Andrius Puotkalis 51` Maksimas Berdnikas ("Jėgėriai") sent off
"Kauno jėgeriai" lineup: Butėnas, A.Sanajevas, Jegelevičius, Ramoška, Steponavičius, Želvys, Berdnikas, Smaryginas, (Varanauskas 75`), Šulkevičius, Sirvidas, Liutkus (Banys 56`).
"Žalgiris" lineup: Šetkus, Deveika, Žekonis, Gražiūnas, Rukštelė, Choružij, Aleksa, Maksimovič, Lemežis, Puotkalis, Morinas (Mižigurskis 46`).
A large group of "Žalgiris" fans traveled from the capital to Kaunas and actively supported their team throughout the match. Many "Žalgiris" supporters acted as if it were summer - they dressed up and danced while singing. Until halftime, the visitors attacked more often, but failed to create good opportunities to score. The second half started unsuccessfully for the Kaunas team - in the 51st minute, the legionnaire Maksimas Berdnikas had to leave the field after receiving a second yellow card. However, until the middle of the second half, Vilnius players were unable to defeat the "Kauno jėgeriai" goalkeeper. In the 55th minute, the hosts were saved from conceding a goal by the crossbar.
Finally, in the 70th minute, the visitors managed to "unlock" the opponents' goal. Artūras Žekonis scored. In the 77th minute, a shot from Žalgiris' Virmantas Lemežis hit the crossbar. At the end of the match, Žalgiris' forward Andrius Puotkalis scored the second goal.
"The guys played above their capabilities, as there were footballers on the field who finished 11th in the first league last year. Nothing remains from the previous Kauno jėgeriai squad. Therefore, it was unrealistic to expect a different result," said Kauno jėgeriai head coach Romas Rudzevičius to alyga.lt.
Kaunas artificial turf stadium, 120 spectators Referee - Andrejus Petrovas Alytus "Alytis" 0 - 0 Marijampolė "Sūduva" (First match 1-4, total score 1-4)
"Alytis" lineup: Štreimikis, Valaitis, Padegimas, Laibinis, Sušinskas, Nepas (Sakalis 82 min.), Miknevičius, Biržinis (Šarkelis 77`), Gikas (Krisiulevičius 90`), Rutkauskas, Cibulskas (Atmanavičius 57`).
"Sūduva" lineup: Klevinskas, Grigas, Gvildys, Mikuckis, D.Čigladzė, B.Čigladzė (Urbšys 46`), Miklinevičius, Uselis (V.Slavickas 84`), Jasaitis (Cordeiro 46`), Maciulevičius (Adomaitis 45`), Fomenka (G.Slavickas 46`).
Meanwhile, the bronze medalist of the Lithuanian "A Lyga," "Sūduva," could not defeat "Alytis," who plays in the country's first league. The LFF Cup round of 16 second leg match between these teams ended in a 0-0 draw, but despite winning the first match 4-1, the Marijampolė team still advanced to the next stage.
At 17:00, Kėdainiai "Nevėžis" and "Šilutė" will also play at the Kaunas artificial turf stadium, while Vilnius "Sportimos" will host Vilnius "Žalgiris-2" and Klaipėda "Atlantas" at 17:30. Later at 19:30, Jonava's "Lietava" will face Vilnius "Vėtra."
