Lithuania round-up: Winning start for champions
Sunday, April 6, 2003
Article summary
The 2003 season began this weekend – with the top three from clubs from 2002 in winning form.
Article body
The 2003 Lithuanian First Division season began this weekend – with all the top three from clubs from 2002 in winning form.
Title holders win
Champions FBK Kaunus visited top-flight newcomers FK Sviesa, coached by Lithuanian national team chief Algimantas Liubinskas. Kaunus, led by Liubinskas's national assistant Saulius Sirmelis, scored the first goal through midfield player Tadas Papeckys on 43 minutes and Czech striker Martin Opic was on target for the first time in the Lithuanian top flight ten minutes from the end to seal victory.
Atlantas victory
Last season’s runners-up FK Atlantas defeated the other promoted side FK Vetra 2-1. Atlantas's ranks now contain several players signed from the now defunct FK Inkaras, and one of those, Ricardas Beniusis was on the scoresheet.
Late goals clinch triumph
FK Ekranas, third in 2002, had the biggest win of the day as they beat SFK Sakalas 3-0. Mantas Savenas opened the scoring after 33 minutes and Lithuanian Under-21 international Vitalijus Kavaliauskas added another in the 83rd minute. The result was sealed with Mindaugas Gardzijauskas's goal three minutes before the end.
Suduva edge past Zagiris
FK Zalgiris Vilnius loaned six players to FK Suduva in the close season, and they may regreat that now after suffering a 1-0 home defeat. Zagiris finished outside the top three for the first time last year, and were outplayed by a Suduva side who clinched victory in the last minute through Vidas Adomaitis.
