Lithuanian Cup
The Lithuanian Football Cup, run by the Lithuanian Football Federation (LFF), is a knockout competition featuring clubs from A Lyga, I Lyga, II Lyga, and amateur sides. It delivers thrilling encounters, underdog stories, and a pathway to European qualification for the winners.
History and foundation
Established in 1928, it's one of the Baltic region's oldest cups. KFK Kaunas claimed the inaugural title. During the Soviet era, it served as the LSSR Cup. Revived in 1991 post-independence, notable editions include Žalgiris Vilnius's 1995 double and Trakai's 2017 upset. In 2020, amid COVID-19 disruptions, Kauno Žalgiris triumphed. Fun fact: Panevėžys' Ekranas holds the record with 13 wins.
Tournament format
Single-elimination format with up to 80 teams. Preliminary rounds from August to October for lower divisions; main stages from November to May. Final on neutral ground, often in Vilnius or Kaunas. No seeding ensures high drama.
Interesting facts
Average goals per match hover at 2.8, spiking to 3.5 in early rounds. Top scorers: Arvydas Novikovas (20 goals), Darius Glevis, Fedor Černych. Standouts include Edgaras Česnaitis from Ekranas and modern stars like Giedrius Vilkas and Oscar Sarkaukas, many advancing to European leagues.