Kaunas reach home straight

By Kestutis Gimbutas

With six games to go, FBK Kaunas are within reach of a sixth consecutive Lithuanian title.

Topsy-turvy spell
Kaunas have been pushed hard by FK Ekranas all season, but are five points clear of their rivals after a topsy-turvy few weeks for Ekranas. In their last three games, Ekranas have won, drawn and lost, and they must still play Kaunas twice at home before the end of the season.

Savenas hat-trick
A 2-1 defeat at unfancied FK Silute on 19 September - against a side featuring no fewer than seven players signed on loan from Ekranas - was a disappointing result for the second-placed side, but it was followed by a superb 3-0 win at Kaunas on 22 September in which 22-year-old Mantas Savenas scored a hat-trick.

Kaunas matches
However, a goalless draw against another mid-table club, FK Vilnius, on 26 September brought Ekranas back to earth with a thump. However, having already beaten the champions twice this season, Ekranas retain hope and the remaining two games against Kaunas will be vital.

New coach
Kaunas themselves recently changed coaches, with former Hamburger SV forward Valdas Ivanauskas taking over from Šenderis Giršovicius. The 38-year-old, who led FK Vetra to third place last season, has been charged with taking Kaunas to the title, and has signed a contract until the end of the season.

Cup semi-finals
Ivanauskas left Vetra after a disagreement with the club's board. Vetra lie a disappointing fifth in the league, although they have reached the Lithuanian Cup semi-finals. Vetra lost the first leg at Kaunas 1-0 with the second leg to come on 29 September.

Atlantas situation
In the other semi-final, Žalgiris Vilnius are 1-0 up after the first leg against FK Atlantas, who are currently level on points with Kaunas at the top of the table. However, they have played two games more than both Kaunas and Ekranas and are regarded as outsiders for the title.

Suduva win
At the foot of the table, FK Suduva are battling to hang on to their top-flight status under the command of Italian duo Rino Lavezzini and Gugliermo Ferrari who took over in July. They won their first game since then on 26 September, beating Vetra 2-1, and are now within three points of second-bottom Vilnius.

League plans
However, relegation is no longer inevitable for the team that finishes bottom of the table, as plans may be afoot to expand the A Lyga to a nine-team division for the 2005 season.