Ekranas edge closer to title

By Kestutis Gimbutas

Lithuanian league leaders FK Ekranas have increased their advantage ahead of closest rivals FBK Kaunas to 18 points, as they bid to end Kaunas's five-year title winning streak.

Kavolis joins
Virginijus Liubšys’ side have offered an attacking and high-scoring brand of football this term, which has seen them net 53 times in just 22 games, including 13 from forward Vitalijus Kavaliauskas who is the league's leading scorer. The service to Kavaliauskas is likely to be further aided by the purchase of left winger Tomas Kavolis who failed to settle at KFK Šiauliai.

Piskariov leaves
Ekranas's fine form has seen them claim maximum points from their last three games, despite a UEFA Cup exit against Cork City FC, while second-placed Kaunas, whose reward for an 8-2 aggregate victory against Faroese title-holders HB Tórshavn was a UEFA Champions League second qualifying round tie against holders Liverpool FC, lost 5-1 overall, have managed just one point over the same period as the gap at the summit stretched to 18. Consequently, coach Aleksandr Piskariov has been relieved of his duties after less than three months in charge.

Player purchases
In a bid to bridge the ever-growing gap between themselves and Ekranas, Kaunas have dipped into the transfer market and signed Georgian defender Nukri Manchkhava, Polish striker Arkadiusz Klimek and was Bosnia-Herzegovina youth international Edin Pehlič, while defensive midfielder Vadim Petrenko returned from his loan at FK Žalgiris Vilnius.

Winning return
Žalgiris returned to league action after a six-week break following their UEFA Intertoto Cup exploits with a 5-2 victory against bottom side FK Nevežis, who are yet to win this season and are now 16 points adrift of KFP Siauliai, who are directly above them. Žalgiris are only one place higher in eighth but still trail second-place by 18 points with four games in hand.

Atlantas fall
FK Vetra's five-game unbeaten run, which has yielded four wins and a draw, has seen them move up to third - seven points behind Kaunas with a game in hand - where they have replaced former UEFA Cup contenders FK Atlantas, down to sixth position after six straight defeats. Atlantas have also parted company with striker Valdas Trakys who has joined Russian first division side FC Orel.

Home comforts
Elsewhere, FK Šilute have returned to their home stadium after a two-year absence as the ground was renovated, ending their spell playing in neighbouring Klaipeda.