Lithuania 3 - 0 Andorra: Ruzgis, Steponavičius and Kučys complete friendly win in Kaunas

Lithuania beat Andorra 3-0 on September 30 at the Steponas Darius and Stasys Girenas Stadium in Kaunas, in a friendly won early, managed calmly and signed off late. For Lithuania head coach Edgaras Jankauskas, this was the kind of international night coaches value: goals, minutes spread across the squad, no drama and no concession.

The game turned in six first-half minutes. Manfredas Ruzgis scored from the penalty spot in the 21st minute, then Faustas Steponavičius made it 2-0 in the 27th minute from an assist by Eligijus Jankauskas. After that, Andorra were chasing a match that had already tilted away from them.

Armandas Kučys, sent on in the 74th minute for Steponavičius, added the third at 90+3. That mattered. Friendly or not, forwards live on these moments. He came on with the game controlled, kept his edge and made the scoreline reflect Lithuania’s authority.

How the match was won

Lithuania did not need to make it complicated. The official lineup data did not list a formation for Edgaras Jankauskas’s side, but the starting XI had Tomas Švedkauskas in goal; Deividas Malžinskas, Rokas Lekiatas, Kipras Kažukolovas and Žygimantas Baltrūnas among the defensive options; Domantas Šluta and Modestas Vorobjovas in midfield; and Motiejus Burba, Faustas Steponavičius, Manfredas Ruzgis and Eligijus Jankauskas in the more advanced group.

Andorra, coached by Koldo, started in a listed 4-4-2: Álex Ruiz in goal, Joel Guillén, Christian García, Kiko Pomares and Marc García across the back, Jesús Rubio, Álex Martínez, Éric Izquierdo and Éric Vales in midfield areas, with Cucu and Jordi Aláez as the front pair.

That shape gave Andorra numbers behind the ball, but not enough control once the game became stretched. Cucu was booked in the 16th minute, and five minutes later Lithuania were ahead. Ruzgis’s penalty in the 21st minute gave the hosts the thing every friendly needs if it is to become useful rather than awkward: control.

The second goal in the 27th minute was the real break. Steponavičius scored, Eligijus Jankauskas assisted, and Andorra’s 4-4-2 suddenly had to do more than contain. It had to create. That is not where Koldo’s side looked comfortable.

The changes told the story

The plan was clear: Lithuania wanted the result, but also the rotation. In the 46th minute, Edgaras Jankauskas made three changes: Artur Dolžnikov replaced Eligijus Jankauskas, Ignas Venckus replaced Manfredas Ruzgis, and Vykintas Slivka replaced Modestas Vorobjovas.

That removed the first-half goalscorer and the assist provider, but the game state allowed it. Lithuania were 2-0 up and could use the second half as a controlled audition.

In the 61st minute, Lithuania changed again: Vilius Armalas came on for Kipras Kažukolovas, Adrian Lickūnas for Motiejus Burba, and Lukas Michelbrink for Domantas Šluta. In the 74th minute, Armandas Kučys replaced Faustas Steponavičius and Justas Lasickas came on for Žygimantas Baltrūnas. In the 90th minute, Artemijus Tutyškinas replaced Rokas Lekiatas.

The important point: the substitutions did not break Lithuania’s rhythm. A friendly can easily dissolve into loose minutes once both benches open. Lithuania kept enough structure to see it out, then found another goal through Kučys at 90+3.

Andorra also used the match to move pieces. In the 54th minute, Moisés San Nicolás replaced Max Llovera, Biel Borra replaced Jesús Rubio, and Izan Fernández replaced Jordi Aláez. In the 67th minute, Ian Olivera came on for Marc García, Aron Rodrigo Tapia for Álex Martínez, and Guillaume López for Cucu. In the 79th minute, Josep Gómes replaced Álex Ruiz, while João Teixeira replaced Éric Izquierdo.

But the visitors’ changes came with the game already sliding away. Yellow cards for Éric Vales in the 68th minute, Kiko Pomares in the 73rd minute and Moisés San Nicolás in the 90th minute added to the sense that Andorra were spending too much time reacting.

Match facts

• Final score: Lithuania 3 - 0 Andorra
• Competition: Friendlies
• Round: Friendly International
• Date: 2026-09-30
• Venue: Steponas Darius and Stasys Girenas Stadium, Kaunas
• Lithuania head coach: Edgaras Jankauskas
• Andorra head coach: Koldo
• Lithuania formation: not listed in the official lineup data
• Andorra formation: 4-4-2
• Red cards: none

Goals

Cards

Starting XIs

Lithuania: Tomas Švedkauskas; Deividas Malžinskas, Rokas Lekiatas, Kipras Kažukolovas, Žygimantas Baltrūnas; Domantas Šluta, Modestas Vorobjovas, Faustas Steponavičius, Eligijus Jankauskas; Motiejus Burba, Manfredas Ruzgis.

Andorra, 4-4-2: Álex Ruiz; Joel Guillén, Christian García, Kiko Pomares, Marc García; Jesús Rubio, Álex Martínez, Éric Izquierdo, Éric Vales; Cucu, Jordi Aláez.

What it means

For Lithuania, the value is straightforward: a 3-0 win, a clean sheet, early goals and a late contribution from the bench. Ruzgis set the tone, Steponavičius gave the match shape, and Kučys made sure the final note was Lithuanian.

For Andorra, the lesson is just as clear. The 4-4-2 held only until Lithuania found the first breakthrough. Once the penalty went in during the 21st minute, Koldo’s side needed a more convincing route up the pitch and never found one.

This was not a grand rivalry night. It was a friendly between two nations used to fighting for small margins in international football. Lithuania simply handled those margins better. Next step for Edgaras Jankauskas: keep the same clarity when the fixtures carry points, not just preparation value.