BFA saw off Neptūnas Klaipėda 2:0 in a Regular Season 21 fixture of the 1 Liga on Saturday. The hosts closed out the result with two goals in the final quarter, though the match unfolded more methodically than the scoreline suggests. To be fair, Neptūnas had been the stronger side all season until this evening.
G. Leonenko broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute, finishing a move that had been building since the hour mark. A. Kezunas added a second just ten minutes later to put the game beyond doubt. By then the visitors had already lost their man to a booking, and the high line was picked apart more freely.
Before the goals, both sides traded chances without finding a clear cut-out. BFA pressed the full-backs in wide areas while Neptūnas looked for the space behind the midfield. The home captain dragged them through it when the visitors went close to equalising before the break.
Recent form had set the scene for this one. BFA came into the match after a 0:0 draw with Daugavpils and a 4:2 win over Transinvest 2, while Neptūnas had suffered a heavy 0:4 defeat to Bagrūngas Plungė away from home. Those results shifted the momentum even before kick-off.
And here's the thing: this result keeps BFA in the mix for a top-six place. They sit eighth with 36 points, three behind fourth-placed Neptūnas, who remain on 41. The gap is narrow, and a win like this will make life awkward for the visitors in the run-in.
Both clubs have now played 22 matches, so there is one round left to reshape the table. BFA extended their unbeaten run at home to four, while Neptūnas lost their third away game in a row. The season is not over, but the hosts have found a way through when it mattered.
